Pecking in chickens

by John Guthrie
(pa)

Help, my chickens are pecking each other! They have food, water and a nice living space. I had them together - 50 in a coop size of 14ft by 14ft with outside space of 20ft by 30ft. What should I do now? I have separated them into two groups - should I add a rooster to the mix?

MEG: GOOD THAT YOU SEPARATED THEM - TO KEEP STABLE SOCIAL ORDER, CHICKENS WORK BEST IN GROUPS OF 20 OR LESS. SOUNDS LIKE OVERCROWDING COULD ALSO BE A PROBLEM! AS A RULE OF THUMB YOU SHOULD ALLOW 10 SQUARE FOOT PER FULL SIZED CHICKEN. GOING ON THAT YOUR 14 x 14ft PEN IS ONLY JUST BIG ENOUGH FOR 20 BIRDS.