Keeping healthy chickens
Chickens have a social order, also known as "pecking order", with a naturally occurring chain of command. Mild pecking and fussing at each other is normal in establishing this order. But what happens when you find your chickens are pecking each other to the point of injury? Feather pecking, or cannibalism, can happen in any flock. Identifying causes will help eliminate the problem.
Causes
Is your coop too small?
Environmental factors can cause pecking. Take a look at your coop area and ask yourself these questions.
Is there adequate ventilation? If chickens are kept indoors it is vital to make sure the area is draft free, yet ventilated to allow fresh air to flow through.
Is there enough food and water? Chickens should be provided with fresh, free choice feed and clean water at all times. If you chickens scramble to finish off every morsel as as soon as you put it down, they are not getting enough food.
Is the area too hot or too cold? Extreme temperatures not only cause stress, but can be lethal.
Is the coop or enclosure overcrowded? This is a major cause of pecking and cannibalism. Perhaps your birds need their enclosure expanded, and require more nesting boxes.
How bright is the area? Chickens prefer diffuse or dim light inside their nesting area. If the nesting area is too brightly lit, either naturally or artificially, it can contribute to stress.
How's your housekeeping? Is the coop or enclosure cleaned frequently? Dirty conditions are stressful and are conducive to poultry diseases and parasites.
Prevention/Solution
Provide fresh free choice feed.
Make sure your birds have plenty of clean water.
Use shade cloth to cover windows inside the coop area.
Try replacing bright lighting with low watt or red-colored bulbs if using artificial lighting indoors. White bulbs have been known to cause picking.
Enlarge the coop or enclosure.
Provide additional nest boxes.
Avoid introducing new birds to an established flock.
Consider trimming your chickens' beaks, also called debeaking.
Keep your chickens' home clean.
Debeaking
Debeaking is used as a preventative measure, and to control established pecking behavior in flocks large and small. Some flock owners choose to head problems off before they can start by debeaking every chicken, while others choose to identify the bullies and debeak them individually. The choice is yours. When a bird is debeaked, only about one third of the top beak is trimmed off. Never trim the lower beak. Debeakers can be purchased through your local farm supply store, or at any poultry supply company catalog.
Treatment
Some birds may require treatment for injuries sustained from pecking. Wounds can be treated with anti-pick products. These are readily available at farm supply stores and poultry supply companies.
Pine Tar
Naturally anti-microbial and germicidal. Thick black/brown and greasy. Smear this over the affected areas.
Herbal remedies
Herbal sprays are used to deter picking by employing a bitter taste. Spray it on each bird as needed for prevention.
Wound dressings
Wound dressings are available to treat picking wounds as well as other skin injuries and conditions such as ringworm. Most come in spray form. Added bonus: These preparations have a bitter taste thus preventing additional pecking.
Trim aggressive bird's beaks, or trim the entire flock.
Remove sick or severely injured birds immediately either for treatment or euthanasia.
Final Words
There is nothing like providing your own food. Keeping a healthy flock is essential to good egg production. Remember: a happy, healthy chicken is a productive chicken. Take the time each day to check on your birds' well being.
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