Keeping Hens Zen

Feather pecking is a common issue amongst backyard chickens. There could be many reasons why your chickens are pecking each other and whilst feather pecking and bullying are year-round issues they can worsen in winter. There are, however, measures you can take to reduce this undesirable behaviour. It could be caused by a possible mite or lice infestation, stress behaviour when new birds are introduced to your flock, or if there is not enough room in the coop, or not enough feeders and drinkers.

Visible cuts or wounds can also attract chickens and increase this behaviour, so it is important to prevent first and act fast if wounds occur. Firstly, take a look at their environment, you should have at least one feeder and one drinker for every 4 birds or less and as said above at least 1 sq meter of space for each bird. It may also be because one of the chickens is bullying the others, trying to establish or disrupt the pecking order.

Regular health checks will ensure you know what is “normal” for your chickens and help you identify any changes quickly. Additional Additionally, observing your flock quietly will help you to identify any bullying behaviour. Look at adding some ‘Cage enrichment’, which can be a good idea to help discourage bullying and improve the happiness of your flock but interest in toys is generally short-lived, they should be used for short periods and swapped regularly.

Dust baths, perches, flower pots to jump on, piles of leaves and bits of turf to pick over can be better ways of enriching their environment and limiting boredom that can result into pecking. If, after checking space and drinkers you still have a pecking problem, consider popping the bully bird into a broody cage (with food and water) inside the run for a couple of days to reset the pecking order. If that doesn’t work you may need to use Nettex Poultry Anti-Feather Pecking Spray. This deterrent spray has a strong odour and foul taste to help discourage biting, It also contains antibacterial agents that will help cleanse minor skin wounds and support the healing process.

Repairs & weatherproofing

Make sure that the coop and run are in good repair before the cold weather starts and check that the housing has adequate ventilation above head height to prevent a build-up of condensation inside.

It is important to also ensure that the run is well attached and has a clear waterproof covering to protect the flock from any bad weather, contaminated wild bird droppings and to prevent mud from forming in the litter as chickens kept in damp and muddy conditions will quick conditions will quickly develop bacterial and fungal foot problems. It’s really important to keep the housing and run dry and clean to prevent health conditions such as Salmonella, Coccidiosis or Bumblefoot.

Sourced from www.nettexpoultry.com