When hens attack each other

When a hen bleeds, the others come back to peck, and the flock quickly gets out of control.

At first, it may just be a pulled feather, then the skin appears.

Very quickly, you spend your time isolating, monitoring, and picking up the injured.

Before thinking complicated, first correct three things: light, space, and occupation.

Too strong a light makes defects visible and encourages pecking.

In a warm building, an agitated flock can tolerate an aggressive lighting atmosphere even less.

When hens are constantly touching each other, every feeder becomes a point of dispute.

For layers, density is counted in hens per square metre of floor, not by guesswork.

For ground-based layers in a warm climate, the breed guide counts six to seven hens per square metre.

When it is hot, reducing density also helps to calm aggression.

A flock without occupation looks for something to do, and sometimes ends up on its neighbours.

The idea is simple: give the beak something else to search for than skin.

A dry litter helps normal behaviour, while a wet litter degrades the atmosphere.

Wet litter promotes ammonia, and ammonia already irritates the respiratory tract.

A leaking drinker wets the litter, and the problem comes back from behind.

As soon as an injury appears, isolate quickly, then look for the cause in the building.

Less pecking means fewer losses, less care, and less time wasted.

Start simple: reduce visual aggression, create space, and occupy the beak.

And at your place, do the pecks start at the feeder, or near the laying boxes?

Describe your building on WhatsApp, at 05 44 83 27 79. The laying record book is offered to you.

For your layer chicks, call 07 07 72 78 67. Subscribe, every week a lesson for your hens.

They are born in our hatchery Nextekci, in Agnibilékrou. With Nextekci, every customer is a satisfied poultry farmer.