BaileyMChicks
Songster
My hens peck each others feathers out. And no I don't think it's just 'the pecking order'. Half of my hens have bald spots where their saddle feathers should be and also have missing feathers near their vents. And I don't think it's lice/mites because 1) I checked and saw neither and 2) only certain hens have it and my 2 Roos don't. Also some of their tail feathers have been pecked out. There usually isn't any blood. My chickens have access to food water and oyster shells all the time and take dirt baths regularly. This started during the winter. We keep the chickens locked up in the coop doing the winter, as it gets very cold where we live, and I will admit my coop it small, but we r building a bigger one soon. During the spring and summer( until there is no snow on the ground or until snow starts to fall again) we let them outside in the run. But eventually all the hens figured our hiw to get out. So all the hens fee range. My one rooster could get out if he really, really wanted to, but it's hard for him cause he's so big. But anyways they freerange( and can go back in the run and coop if they want) all day from 7:30 am to 8:00 pm. I was wondering if putting vicks or chest rub on the bald spots would keep them from pecking each other. Sorry this was so long.