Feather pecking! Help please

[red+queeny]

Hi i need some help please! have 4 sussex hens 2 red 2 brown one of the bigger browns is pecking at a red 1 quite bad, drew blood and lost lots of back feathers, have tried the seperation tactic but when put backin with others it started all again, i have used anti pecking spray which stinks! but she just starts on a new area,theyhave tonic in there water and plenty of protien food, what else can i try???? my poor red hen looks so sad!

[Falkor]

Hi

You could try fitting the culprit with a bumper bit. More info here

[red+queeny]

hi, thanks for that, looks a bit extreme but if it works i'm happy to try, also does anyone have a clue why they are so nosy! at times i cant shut them up stressing and squaking etc for no reason, plenty of food and water and things to do!!!!

[Claret]

Some chooks are just noiser than others - I wouldn't worry about it.

[chelsea]

Some chooks are just noiser than others - I wouldn't worry about it.

My lot are noisy, I used to stress about it - but not so much now. Hubby said I was worrying over nothing and the noise is not as loud as I think it is!

They will settle down, certain things make them noisy (cats, planes, car doors, etc). Maybe tie some things up in their run (cabbages, corn on the cobs etc) to keep them occupied.

[clarabel]

Hi I was reading your problem with hens pecking, I am having a similar problem very new to keeping chickens, purchased in late January. We have one pepperpot and 2 gingernuts. Miss pepperpot looks beautiful but the ginergernuts are looking quite plucked with one of them having been cannobolised (this is a new development and it looks disgusting). I have sprayed with anti pecking spray and have been for a while. Just ordered a jacket as suggested to protect one of the chickens and some hoof tar for the wounds. Not quite sure what to do now, it could be bordeom as the girls love it in the garden but I am worried about foxes but I suppose I have to weigh up the pros and cons, one poor sad hen being eaten alive by its house mates versus a happier brood of hens enjoying what could be potentially their last supper! IThe chickens are in an eglu with the extended run attached and I was assured that this was enough space for them, they dont' though have any 'toys' in the run - any suggestions. Also at night they are closed in the eglu and must confess that I am up around 6-6.45 and dawn arrives around 6 so they are very eager to get out in the morning. Last night I decided not to lock them in so come morning they could get themselves up, and iut would allow me a mohers day lie in.
Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Welcome to the forum, both of you . Sorry to read about your problems .

For entertainment (and distraction from pecking) you could put logs and branches in their run. Ikea shoe racks work well too as the ends fit through the holes in an Omlet run.

Also hanging up veg like corn on the cob or cabbages can help keep them occupied.