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We've had lots of chickens in the past and we've read about cannibalism but this year we increased our flock size, but also the size of the range area, but alas it mustn't be big enough, or ??? They don't have any artificial light because their big house is facing south, so the light has never been a factor before. Anyway, they're eating each other and its really gross. You don't want to see this!! They will peck a hole into a chicken within a few hours, and peck it to death by the end of the day if they're not monitored well. We've set up a separate hospital area for those that have had their backsides pecked, or small holes near their tail/vent area, and if we catch it quick enough then they heal within a couple of days and can be reintroduced. We are going to try some Pine Tar this week, hopefully that will help heal and get rid of the reddish color from the pecking. Iodine works well for the wounds but it makes the area orange and brings it to all the other hens attention. I think they see the pinkish/red skin which is exposed when they've pecked the feathers away from the smaller less agressive birds and then the frenzy is on. Its like a red cloak to a bull, these hens see red and they go crazy to get it. We lost a Buff Orpington the other day as its entire vent was pecked out overnight. Man these girls can be cruel, no evil. Our rooster looked fine until recently, but he gives a whole new meaning to the term "hen-pecked male", we really feel sorry for him and grab him and put him outside each day at the moment. He's miserable without his hens but he looks really worse for wear. We've had a lot of snow here this winter and they won't venture too far from their house, so we think this has caused the crowding, even though we've shovelled away most of the snow. They have a big enough area but aren't using it all, because the size was fine until now. This started 7 days ago so we are really getting aggresive so it doesn't get out of control. We've checked for lice etc, but its just plain evil chickens at their best, or worst. So we have a few options we're working on: more feed spread around in a larger area, ie grass, cracked corn, vegies; apply black tar to camaflouge the reddish area so they quick going after it as if its a red berry; put the anti-peck guards on - but how? Anyone have the name of a book which can tell us how to apply these things. MurryMcMurray sell them, and the pliers. Has anyone used them? Be thankful your hens are only going after your eggs and not each other!