I have 30 breeds of chickens. But lately in about three cages, they have been killing each other by pecking and eating the butt. What is going on? How do I stop this from happening? Most groups are not crowded, only maybe one group until the new coop is up.

Hi, chickcrazee!

I moved your question out of Introductions to this forum topic area so that it will be more likely to be noticed and addressed by those who are best able to answer it. Introductions is for introductions only, and we try to not ask questions there.

At the bottom of this page, are questions that have similar content to the one that you've asked. If you click on one or two of them, you also might find some information that's helpful to you.

Thanks!

I have the same issue going with my chickens. My biggest chicken is pecking the butt of another. I've tried separating her for a few hours this evening, but don't know what will solve the problem.

Any help?

Chickens peck each other because they think they see a small bug or nat and think it's a treat so they peck at it then a sore forms and they think it's a bigger bug so they peck more once a sore is formed you must move the chick from the rest or they will unintentionally kill it. You can apply a small amount of iodine or neosporine to the sore as long as they are in a separate cage so others won't peck at the meds. If you see poop stuck to a chicks rear soak a wash cloth then hold chick while using cloth to soften poop until you cen get it off. The other chicks will mistake the poop for a bug and start pecking at it until its gone by then they would have made a sore and have something new to peck at check chicks daily for bugs or any thing stuck on feathers that chicks could think was a bug this will keep pecking down. Also you can watch to see if all or just one chick is doing the pecking if its just one try removing him for a couple days if pecking goes away I would find him a new home or try again to see if he starts again. Hope this helps your more than welcome to email me if you have more questions I am no expert but I have chicks and have learned a lot through my sons 4-H group.
[email protected]