SOS! Cannibalism

[Graciebryant]

For the last couple weeks I keep finding dead chickens in my run. At first I wrote it off as predators but couldn’t find a spot at all for one to get in. Then I heard about chicken cannibalism.

I can not seem to figure out why my chickens are killing and eating each other. I KNOW they have plenty of room, they have plenty of food at all times along with snacks and other treats. I have put different things in there for enrichment, most recently being a HUGE log full of ants for them to climb on and whatnot, they’ve got a big mirror. What is happening? Do they need even more enrichment? Is it a lack of protein even though I’ve never fed a different feed in 10 years. I have 7 chickens and a guinea left, 2 of the chickens and the guinea are 10 years old. Do they get dementia? Please someone help me.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Have you witnessed chickens doing the deed? It does happen.
What age are those affected and what age is/are the perpetrator/s?
Exactly what do you feed, crude protein percentage, age of the feed(mill date on the bag) what treats and other things besides the chicken feed do they eat? What breeds?

 

[Apis mellifera]

If you're sure it's not a predator and feeding flock raiser with a side of oyster shell, then you have to satisfy their craving for meats.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I had a cannibalism issue I initially thought was rats even though I never saw any. Then I caught some chickens in the act.

 

[Graciebryant]

Have you witnessed chickens doing the deed? It does happen.
What age are those affected and what age is/are the perpetrator/s?
Exactly what do you feed, crude protein percentage, age of the feed(mill date on the bag) what treats and other things besides the chicken feed do they eat? What breeds?

I have not witnessed the action happening. I have only come to that conclusion because I’ve searched so many times for a way for any predator to get in and can not find anything. The dead chickens are almost always shredded into pieces all around the run and picked clean of almost all meat and organs. I had the 3 10 yr old chickens, one white leghorn, and 2 who’s breed is unknown along with the 10 yr old guinea, I had 7 Rhodesian reds and 5 black australorps who I got around march-April of 2024. We put them all together around September-October of 2024 and everything had been great until this last 1-2 weeks. I have since lost 4 reds, 3 australorps, and one of the 10 yr old unknown breed. The 10 yr olds death was the only one that was a little bit different. I suspect with her she just reached the end of her life, couldn’t roost, and passed in her sleep on the floor of the coop, however I could be wrong because while she wasn’t picked clean of meat by any means and she wasn’t dismembered but they had eaten her underbelly and all of her organs. I currently and have always fed country road layer crumbles by rural king (gave them chick starter when they were chicks). The bag says it has a 16% crude protein and the mill date on the bag I just finished is March 17, 2025. As far as treats they get anything I know to be safe, certain weeds from the yard, mostly prickly lettuce because they go crazy for it, also a lot of kitchen scraps, most fruit and veggie scraps, no pits, seeds, or skins they aren’t supposed to have. They get the bread scraps as long as it’s not moldy, no sweets or chocolate. They do get leftovers that don’t have the preservative filled ingredients, mostly just lightly seasoned meats, veg and sometimes pastas but not often. I do give them occasional dairy but a small amount that was split between 17 birds. They get the occasional raw egg when I accidentally drop one. I suspected the two 10 yr old unknown breed hens to be the ones instigating because they were always the on the meaner side but never any injuries but with one of them now dead I still don’t know what’s happening.

 

[Debbie292d]

So sorry for your losses. I know how frustrating this must be! Try see if you can find an "all-flock" feed for them. That's usually 20% protein. The hens will need oyster shell in a separate feeder/dish as it's lower in calcium.

I know you said they have plenty of room, but just in case, I'm putting this here so you can check, as maybe it's not enough. Chickens need a minimum of 4 square feet of clear floor space in a coop and 15 square feet in a run. I'm sorry for sounding morbid here, but now with less chickens I'd think this should help if it had anything at all to due with overcrowding.

Any chance you could pick up a camera that works at night too? Just in case something else is doing this, plus, if it's a particular chicken or chickens doing it, you could pull them out and separate for a while and we'll try help you with the next move from there.

 

[Apis mellifera]

Try see if you can find an "all-flock" feed for them. That's usually 20% protein.

All flock is all plant protein.

 

[Debbie292d]

All flock is all plant protein.

And very good for them! We raise show silkies, and our chicks, chickens, and even ducks thrive on Kalmbach's Flock Maker.

 

[Apis mellifera]

And very good for them!

We'll have to agree to disagree. No big deal.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Chickens need a minimum of 4 square feet of clear floor space in a coop and 15 square feet in a run.

Per chicken.