Keeping several cocks in the same flock can be challenging. One minute they are peacefully scratching around the compound, and the next they are chasing, jumping on and pecking each other. Some fighting is normal because chickens establish a pecking order , but persistent or severe fighting can result in injuries, stress, poor flock performance and even death. The good news is that farmers can reduce unnecessary fighting by managing space, flock composition, feeding, introductions and the environment properly. Why Do Cocks Fight? Before trying to stop fighting, it helps to understand why it happens. 1. Establishing the pecking order When several mature cocks are kept together, they naturally compete to establish dominance. This can involve: Chasing Chest bumping Pecking Jumping at each other Short fights Once the hierarchy is established, minor confrontations may decrease. The problem starts when fighting becomes continuous or causes injuries. 2. Too many cocks in one flock...
Finding a freshly laid egg with a hole in it can be frustrating. Finding several broken eggs—and then discovering that your hens are eating them—can be even worse. Egg eating can start with something as simple as an accidentally broken egg. Once a hen gets a taste of the contents, she may learn to look for freshly laid eggs and peck them open. Other hens can then copy the behaviour. The good news is that prevention is much easier than trying to break an established egg-eating habit . The best approach is to find out why eggs are breaking or becoming accessible in the first place and correct the management problem. Why do chickens eat their own eggs? There isn't always one single reason. Usually, egg eating develops when hens have regular access to broken eggs. However, several management problems can make egg breakage and egg eating more likely. 1. Eggs are breaking in the nesting box This is one of the biggest things to investigate. When several hens crowd into the same nest, eggs...