Urgent help needed-pecking extreme

[_ss233]

Chickens don't usually peck under the wings. They go for the head, neck, vent, or the top of the wings, generally. Are you sure that wasn't caused from the saddle?

Positive. She hasn’t been saddled until tonight when I put it on her

 

[Debbie292d]

If I do get a crate and put it in the run, can I let her out at night to roost with the rest of the flock?

Until you know who or what did this, I would keep her separated from them.

 

[Debbie292d]

@Debbie292d is an Educator, too!

You gave good advice already so I wasn't going to add to it.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

You gave good advice already so I wasn't going to add to it.

Thank you.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Learned from the best, and my own injured hen.

 

[_ss233]

Until you know who or what did this, I would keep her separated from them.

Trying my best to keep close eyes on them but have yet to witness aggression. In the event I am able to figure it out, what’s next? Do I rehome the aggressive hen? Do I rehome the one who is getting bullied to try and give her a better outcome long term?

 

[Debbie292d]

Trying my best to keep close eyes on them but have yet to witness aggression. In the event I am able to figure it out, what’s next? Do I rehome the aggressive hen? Do I rehome the one who is getting bullied to try and give her a better outcome long term?

Pecking is generally caused from two things; lack of protein or overcrowding.

You could try feed them a higher protein food, like most all-flocks are around 18-20% protein. You'd have to supplement oyster shell as it's lower calcium

For coops, each chicken should have 4 square feet, and for runs, 15 square feet.

If neither of these are issues, then you may just have a bully. We don't rehome bullies. We've had a couple and they get culled.

If you do have a bully, without that hen in there, they may pick out a new victim. Just watch your flock for 15 minutes or so and you should be able to spot her.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Any chance of putting a camera out there? Is she new? Has anything changed recently? How big is the coop in feet (LxW) and how many birds do you have in there? How old are they?

 

[_ss233]

Pecking is generally caused from two things; lack of protein or overcrowding.

You could try feed them a higher protein food, like most all-flocks are around 18-20% protein. You'd have to supplement oyster shell as it's lower calcium

For coops, each chicken should have 4 square feet, and for runs, 15 square feet.

If neither of these are issues, then you may just have a bully. We don't rehome bullies. We've had a couple and they get culled.

If you do have a bully, without that hen in there, they may pick out a new victim. Just watch your flock for 15 minutes or so and you should be able to spot her.

This is helpful thank you. Our run is slightly small for our 7 chickens. We have always planned to open more space for them but with winter it got postponed as the ground is frozen we cannot fence off the space needed.

I do have a fenced garden area that they could roam for the time being, it is attached to their coop and run space. But without it fully topped off above, would I need to clip their wings so they don’t fly out?

I’ve witnessed one bird acting aggressively before. I’m thinking it could be her although I haven’t seen it lately or directly toward this chicken. She is not new. They are all brooder mates and just over a year old. Currently on scratch n peck layer mash. I’ll look into a higher protein diet

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I’ve had a recurring pecking problem with my hens. I resolved the original wound and have been checking her daily but today I found a large wound again tucked under her wing.

Trying my best to keep close eyes on them but have yet to witness aggression. In the event I am able to figure it out, what’s next? Do I rehome the aggressive hen? Do I rehome the one who is getting bullied to try and give her a better outcome long term?

Sorry about your hen.

You don't have a rooster? The only time I've dealt with wounds in that location is due to the hen being mounted, nail or spur has accidentally sliced them.

Have you tried the pinless peeper as suggested last year when you had a picking issue within the flock? https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/fowl-pox-pecking.1678918/#post-28883137

How much space do you have in your coop and run? Square Footage of each?
Are your hens confined all the time or do they roam out and about too?

A camera or two to observe and see what's going on can be helpful, one in the run, one in the coop. Often picking/pecking happens during roosting.

As for rehoming? That would be up to you, as of now, you don't know which hen it is and haven't seen any bad behavior.