Rhode Island Reds

[tami1024]

I recently purchased 3 RI Reds from a family that obviously has to many chickens shoved into this little coop. According to to gentleman of the house the ones that I purchased are about 1 year old. Their feathers are all picked off of their behinds, they are aggressive with my other chickens, not allowing them to eat. My question is will this behavior change or did I make a mistake purchasing these chickens?

 

[Fred's Hens]

Chickens quickly build a social pecking order. You essentially put two groups of strangers together. Their instincts are to fight each as intruders and interlopers.

Give them lots of room, a large outdoor area. Feed them well. All this feather pecking and food competition reflects that the birds were bored, crowded and underfed high quality, high protein feed. I suspect if you do a good job with husbandry, things will settle in rather quickly.

Did you dust the new birds for lice/mites?

 

[tami1024]

Thanks for the info. I did'nt know I was supposed to dust them. What do I need to use for the dusting? They have been dusting themselves in the sand. New to this. Any info I greatly appreciated. Also, will the feathers grow back?

 

[Fred's Hens]

Poultry dust is available at most rural stores like TSC or similar. Often, you can buy a shaker can with about a quart of dust in it. There are some neat YouTube videos which show various techniques of dusting the birds. You need to repeat in 8 days, btw. Kinda like killing the head lice of kids. LOL

Sometimes having multiple feed/water stations lowers the competitive fighting over food and water and well. Lots of space to stay clear of each other is also quite important.