You have adequate space to divide the pen into 2, so try that. Either 2 12X8's or 2 16X6's. Can you cut another hen size opening into your chicken house?
Which chickens are initiating the pecking? The old group or the new group? If it is the new group, take all but 1 of them out for 2 weeks, then add another and so on till they have all merged again. If that doesn't work, start lopping heads. If you can't whack their heads off, give that chicken to someone who will. Chickens that can't get along can be replaced.
Georgia
For all your chicken's clothing needs, go to
www.chickensaddlesanddiapers.webs.com
--- On Tue, 11/2/10, lisandennissharp <sharpsrockins@yahoo.com> wrote:
From: lisandennissharp <sharpsrockins@yahoo.com>
Subject: [CHICKENS-101] pecking hens
To: CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tuesday, November 2, 2010, 3:48 AM
Hi-
I'm new to the group and live near New Orleans, Louisiana. I was given a group of hens and a rooster by my mom about a year ago. All was fine until I added several new hens. A few of them started hen pecking and defeathering the back end of a few hens. Then my rooster died of old age. The pecking got worse. I have dusted them for mites. Sprayed bluing on their red butts and backs. It gets better for a while then gets worse again. I was told by a local breeder to get another rooster so I did. The pecking lessened for about 2 weeks and has not gotten worse again. Again I dust and spray, have added fruit and veggies to their yard. They are on a good feed, have fresh water constantly, fresh hay in thier boxes. They have a very big house with plenty of roosting boxes. They have a fenced in yard about 12' X 16'. They can not free range due to local hunting dogs that run loose and would eat them. Their yard has a sun screen on the top during the summer and the house has a fan for cooling in the summer and a heater fan during the winter so I don't think it is a temperature problem. I currently have 11 hens and a rooster. I have lost about 8 hens over the last year for unknown reasons. Does anyone have any ideas how I can stop the defeathering?
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