This will stop your pecking issues...

[SunKissedAcres]

I'm going to post this here instead of on each post.

I have always had a problem with the birds pecking, and pecking until they kill each other. I've lost MANY birds this way.

I found what's called a "Flock Block" at Tractor Supply Company. It is a block of compressed seeds and molasses, etc. The idea is that they peck the block instead of the other birds. It also gives them all the nutrients that they need that usually causes the pecking in the first place. You will see their feathers get very thick and full, shiny and healthy. They will just plain feel better. I swear by them. I've not lost a single bird since I put them in the coops three weeks ago. (hope I don't jinx it, lol.)

Try this! I really think you'll be satisfied.

(And no, I am not affiliated with TSC in any way.)

 

[Nicole01]

Thank you for the tip. I'm new at raising chickens. I have one who picks on the others, she is also top hen. She doesn't peck at them yet, but she will walk right on top of her chick mates. I think the flock block is a good idea.

 

[knjinnm]

What have you been feeding your birds, do they have access to calcium grit? What is the protein content of your feed? If your birds are actually pecking each other to death something is definitely missing in their diet.
How crowded are your birds? Do they get to free range during the day to eat greens and bugs?

 

[Emmalion]

I actually picked one of those up in the winter to keep mine happy. They could not of cared less about it. But the dog on the other hand loved it. I think they were just pissy with being stuck inside with the 8mil feet of snow on the ground.

 

[greenSearcher]

I have three coops, and last winter I bought one for each coop. Only the babies ate theirs, the others were either unwilling to peck the thing hard enough or weren't bored. We had a fairly dry winter so they got out most days. The babies were confined all winter in the garage so they were probably bored.
I just broke up the last of those blocks with a chisel and 3lb sledge. The crumbles will be mixed w/ the scratch, and they will eat it that way. Wasn't going to throw it out. Cost too much.

 

[sgtmom52]

Quote:
I put one in each of my 3 coops this winter and while they did eat part of it ~ it didn't help much with the "cabin fever" they got when they didn't want to go out in the snow, even though they were free to go out everyday no matter what the weather.

 

[donnavee]

Quote:
I tried one as well - my chickens pecked at it a little the first day and then ignored it. They have more fun searching for bugs and grubs in the woods, leaving only roost time to do a little pecking on each other.

 

[ronmybaby]

How do I introduce my new year old hen to my older hen. Right now I have them in separate dog cages with the cages butted up againist each other to have them close so they can "meet each other". The older hen acts like she will kill the new one. I was very worried about putting them together in the big hen house. I am afraid I will wake up to one or both dead. How can I get them to get along and not kill each other??

I will let them go one more day like they are and then put them together. I know there is a peaking order and all but tell me how you introduce new hens to old ones.

Also I wanted to get the new one to know where to come at sundown and know where to go she is new and won't know to come to the hen house in the back area. I don't want to let her out in afew days and she runs off. I only have these two hens. Why can't the older hen just appreciate her new "buddy". The old one she loved died by the hands of a predator a week ago. She doesn't know it she only knows that other hen is gone. Please help with how you would introduce and how you could make it work.

Thanks!

 

[Judy]

Quote:
You really should have opened a new thread. Just pick the forum, probably Managing your Flock for this, and click on the yellow button in the upper right hand corner.

On introducing chickens: https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-adding-to-your-flock

 

[Chick named Lola]

I got that same flock block from TS and my just stood on it and pooed on it!

Then I bought one online that is mostly millet seeds and they are devouring it! The one from TS was too hard for them, if I "pecked" at it with the gardening tool, they would eat what I knocked off but won't peck that one themselves. Don't know why, maybe it's harder?