Patridge bantam chicken poorly foot?

[pistachio]

Feeling really sad this morning. I knew chickens could be pretty vicious with each other but I didn't know it could get so lethal so quickly. I let my six chickens out of their Cube coop at about 8 this morning and everyone was fine.

 

They've been a little pecky recently and I guessed it was due to them starting to lay and possibly being a bit more territorial. But at 10.00 my kids came running up the garden in tears because 5 chickens had cornered one and were pecking it's flesh and it was an open skinless wound the size of my, large, palm.

 

I immediately opened the run and the others came out (although one had to be dragged off the other) and I retrieved the chicken and took her straight to the vet. I was convinced she would be put down but he has given me a thick antibiotic paste for her wounds and I am keeping her in the house and we are giving her achance and hoping for the best.

 

I only got my 6 chickens from Omlet at the start of september and one has already been treated with antibiotics because she went into some kind of shock and was wheezing. She's fine now but I would have thought it would be her to get pecked since she was weak. This one was a bit of a loner and I wondered if she is unpopular.

 

Any ideas what is going on and how I can help if at all. I knew they might be a little violent but this was horrific - especially for the kids I've explained that chickens aren't spiteful - they just do what they do and what their instincts tell them.

 

Please - some help and advice and encouragement. I'm new to this and I love my chickens, let them out and sit with them every day and I'm really sad.

 

To summarise:

Why might it have happened?

Is there anything I can do to lessen their need to peck each other?

How can I re-integrate her once (and if) the wound fully heals and there is no sign of blood or flesh?

Is it linked to them starting to lay?

Will it get better?

 

The pecked chicken is called Raven.

 

 

 

I'VE JUST CHECKED ON HER AND SHE'S STOOD UP AND HAS LAID AN EGG AND IS EATING OATS.

 

 

I have updated this with a few replies further on in this thread - perhaps I am supposed to edit the first one to make it easier? new to this

Edited October 29, 2008 by Guest

[cammy73]

Hi,

 

I can't answer the why? question but one of my chicks got accidently left in with the 2 big girls and she got pecked really badly, I cleaned her up and sprayed her with genetian violet spray, it covers the blood and is mildly antiseptic, I then put her in the cat carrier in the run, lwft her there for a day...with water and food in the carrier....then let her back out with the others and touch wood she has been fine since. Don't leave her out too long, they may forget her and it'll happen again.

 

Chickens can be soo nasty to each other, but as you said its what they do....

 

Hope all settles down

 

Sharon x

[pistachio]

Thanks Sharon - it's encouraging that yours made a good return. I'd like to put her back in soon. At the moment she's in a box in the front room and keeps getting out (obviously! and I'm pleased she has the energy to) and she's gonna make a right mess with blood and pooh and antibiotic paste in the long run. Maybe I need a sick run! The vet said she can't go back in with the others till she's healed. Not sure how I'm going to cope with work and night etc but when the last one was ill I just took it bit at a time.

[Egluntyne]

Can you divide the run so that they can all see each other, but she is safe from attack?

[The Dogmother]

You might be able to find some alternative housing or something to split the run with on Freecycle.

 

Chickens are very competitive, expecially bigger hybrids (think survival of the fittest) and will sometimes pick on a sick or less fit hen - it's their (rather unkind) way of winkling out the 'weaklings' from their society.

[pistachio]

yes - ideally I'd like to keep her close to the others while she recovers.

 

she's now in a shed which I've adapted - plenty of straw because she seems troubled by the cold and food and drink (with a little tonic in) and a stool adapted into a perching possibility.

 

We've got an Eglu Cube with a run extension so there is scope for a partition although probably not in the sleeping area.

 

She is so bloody at the moment that I think she needs to be well out of the way and she doesn't like the breeze either. I'm thinking that when it starts to heal a little I could get some chicken wire and make her a partition for the day and put her in the shed at night. Once there is no blood or raw flesh I think i will introduce her to the others in their supervised free range time, where I can intercept if any pecking re-starts. Gradually I hope to get her back in but she's not in any fit state to be anywhere other than a warm place away from the elements. I let her in the garden on her own and she ate a little and then started shaking. She was better inside.

 

This is all quite a shock to someone who is new to chickens but I am learning that they are resilient as well as fragile and I'm hoping for a full recovery. I hear what you are saying about keeping them together but with protection. If she keeps getting perkier and if the wound doesn't get iredeemably infected and manages to mend then she might be doing that soon. Poor little thing. The good thing is that she seems surprisingly happy and was entrance with the discovery of a mirror whilst in the house

[Egluntyne]

The good thing is that she seems surprisingly happy and was entrance with the discovery of a mirror whilst in the house

How lovely.

 

She sounds like a survivor.

 

If you are remotely near Sheffield, you could borrow one of my Eglus.

[The Dogmother]

... or one of mine if you're further south.

 

Sounds like you've given it some though - have you tried blocking off the nest box and popping her in there at night? I found that my smallest tubtrug fits neatly into the hole between the roosting area and the nest box.

[Egg Lou]

or if you're even further south.. I have a spare cube "end panel" with door that could be borrowed and used to section off part of your run?? although the eglu offers above would be far better as more space

[Steve.]

I have a similar problem but not as extreme.

 

I am new also to chickens - and still working it all out - getting there I hope.

 

I think mine are bored and depressed in their muddy run - unable to scratch or do anything of excitement.

 

I have got some Ukadex on order to stop them pecking feathers. I think once blood is drawn that it is. I've been liberally spraying Gentian violet to cover any wounds. My Red cube is now deep blue in places.

 

Good luck.

[The Dogmother]

Steve, have you tried stringing up cabbages or other veg for them to peck at?

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Sorry to hear about poor Raven . How traumatic for your kids .

 

No advice to offer, just wanted to say good luck with her recovery. You sound like you're doing all the right things so far. She's a lucky chicken .

[Steve.]

Steve, have you tried stringing up cabbages or other veg for them to peck at?

 

No I haven't ... it was suggested in my own 'problem' thread. and I'm just asking if it needs to be cooked .... or not.

[The Dogmother]

No, they're not worried about your cordon bleu skills, just raw is fine. I often blag the outer leaves that the market stalls discard.

[Barkisland]

Oh my goodness, a gang attack! How very upsetting that must have been for you and the kiddies.

As another newbie, I am having a bit of pecky bother with one of mine too - Gilda has turned out to be a right nasty piece, and is particularly targetting poor little Ada (the littlest chooky, and my special favourite ), although she is not opposed to a crafty nip at any of the others either. I've noticed that none of them peck her back, so I assume she has established herself as Top Chook? Yesterday I decided enough was enough, and was going to fit her with a bumper bit - I bought 4 from Wernlas when I ordered my chooks, somehow knowing they would be needed. But can I find em? No, I cannot. I will have to get them to pop a couple in the post pronto. Meanwhile, I'll hang up some veggies, thanks for the tip.

[chelsea]

sounds like an awful experience Pistachio.

 

You did the right thing seperating them. What could of happened is the hen that was attacked may have had a small wound or cut that may have been bleeding very slightly....as soon as they see the slightest bit of blood the other hens would have been attracted to it and pecked it and made the wound much much worse. If your children hadnt alerted you then she could have been pecked to death, poor thing.

 

 

 

Keep an eye on the wound (do you have antibiotics?), you could when it has settled down maybe bathe it with a weak tea tree solution or salt water solution to help it heal/combat infection.

 

I would keep her seperated until it heals and when introduced back into the flock maybe spray her with some purple spray/ukadex spray for a while just to make sure the others give her a wide berth for a bit.

[pistachio]

I've let the chickens out this morning and I've added more bits and bobs to the hanging cds and broccoli and cabbage but the top chick is really biting all the others. Not just a little "get lost" nip but a chasing and biting type affair. I let them out into the garden for a bit of free range but she was still doing it. I've put her in the coop area while i have a chance to think. I've got yesterdays bleeding chicken in the shed and she's doing well and I'm getting a run for the bleeding chicken today. But I haven't got anywhere for the violent one to go.

 

I've abandoned my plans to go away this half term because it's not fair to let someone else try and deal with this lot. I'm feeling rather out of my depth. I'm ordering some gentian violet now.

 

Someone said that they may not be getting enough protein if they are being continually savage. The Omlet guy said that layers pelletts had everything they need.

 

HELP!!!!! I'm on the edge - not quite but definately

[chickenanne]

What a nightmare introduction to chicken keeping! This is meant to be a consolation rather than sounding smug: mine aren't aggressive to each other, the occasional peck of course, but nothing worse. I think that is normal, and you're jsut very unlucky to've had these problems, particularly so early on. It doesn't sound like you're doing anything wrong at all, either, in fact, you're doing everything right.

 

Typically not enough space encourages aggression, but this doesn't sound like an issue for you. Boredon also doesn't help, but TBH with the space yours have, this shouldn't be a problem either- hanging up veggies is a good tip just-in-case though.

If one has a little bit of blood (or anything "interesting" on it then others will peck out of curiosity, which causes more blood, more pecking... etc. I wonder if this is what started it in your case?

 

Either way, the gentian violet spray, separating her until she heals, is essential.

If you can remove the very aggressive one from the rest that might help: preferably completely seperate for a week or so, but failing that, even in very crampt quarters during the day and you have to put her in the cube to roost after dark. That way when she returns properly she'll be bottom of the heap and the others may've grown a bit and caught up.

[pistachio]

Either way, the gentian violet spray, separating her until she heals, is essential.

If you can remove the very aggressive one from the rest that might help: preferably completely seperate for a week or so, but failing that, even in very crampt quarters during the day and you have to put her in the cube to roost after dark. That way when she returns properly she'll be bottom of the heap and the others may've grown a bit and caught up.

 

 

I am trying the separating of the aggressive one now. Right this second she is in the coop with food and water while I think of somewhere to put her as the savaged one is in the adapted shed. I was intending to borrow a run for the savaged one until this morning when the aggressive one was at it again. I really hope they can all get on in the end. They are lovely birds and we have an Eglu Cube with an extension for 6 of them. The leaves are all falling after the frost so the chooks are loving it today

 

I've just been on the Eglu shop bit and they don't have gentian violet spray - just anti-pek spray. Has anyone got any thoughts about the relative merits of these?

[Egluntyne]

Try an equestrian shop for the gentian violet spray. Costs around £4ish

 

It is mildly antiseptic as well as tasting vile and disguising the wound.

 

Did you see the offers of the loan of various Eglus on the previous page, pistachio?

[keyhole kate]

What a shame I relly do feel for you I have no advice to give above what everyone else has said. You sound as though you are doing all the right things I think you have just been a bit unlucky just keep following the advice given you will get there sometimes it just takes a little time your situation is very similar to intoducing a new chook in many ways, a lot of us have been there done that and have come out the other end with success Dont forget we are all here for you with support & hugs 24/7

 

Thinking of you chin up XxxHugsxxX

[helenmb]

How awful for you all - lets face it chickens sometimes are not 'nice' creatures. I posted on another thread recently as I had some advice sent to me from Omlet as follows:-

 

Hens are instinctively territorial. She is also establishing the pecking order which does seem brutal, but will settle down.

If the new chickens are being badly bullied, you can get sprays to use on the bullied birds which make their feathers taste unpleasant to Millie and deters pecking.

Ascott Smallholding Supplies http://www.ascott.biz sell a range of anti-peck sprays as do the SPR Centre – http://www.sprcentre.co.uk and The Domestic Fowl Trust - http://www.domesticfowltrust.co.uk/health2.html Ukadex is a very pungent brown spray which farmers use on lambs or piglets tails to prevent them being bitten and this is also effective on hens. It is very smelly though and you need to use it in a very well ventilated place as it really does take your breath away. You can find this in some animal health shops as well as online from http://www.pandtpoultry.co.uk/product/c ... 056b892cf3

If the skin is red, sore or broken, you can use Veterinary Wound Powder on them to help stem the bleeding and promote healing. Hens are morbidly attracted to the colour red and will peck at wounds until they are in a dreadful state if nothing is done so Gentian or Purple Spray is very effective as it stains the skin purple and this makes it a much less obvious target for the bully.

You can also use Stockholm Tar which acts like a sticky black plaster, deterring further pecking whilst allowing the wound to heal underneath. All these products are available from the websites listed above or from animal feed merchants – usually in the equestrian section, and large petshops.

 

They can get more 'pecky' if they are bored so hanging up stuff to peck at helps too, try cabbage leaves (or lettuce) using a peg or bulldog clip - cabbages are a bit more robust than lettuce so will take them longer to get through. I've tried a Peckabloc but they just ignore it.

 

Hope this helps a bit.

 

From this thread

[pistachio]

thanks you guys

 

I have seen the offer of eglus and the nearest would be fine to get to usually and I may yet have to take the offer up but it's half term and I work part time and it's just not feasible to travel too far at mo. So I bought a run for the aggressive one and I've found some anti pek stuff and the ill one is in the shed awaiting a run I'm going to borrow from nearby. I'm quite sure it's not boredom or cramped conditions as the eglu cube extended run now looks like a blinkin circus with cds and cabbages and broccoli hung up.

 

I will keep the ill one in the shed and let her out on her own and let her wander around the others while the others are locked in runs. I will put her in the shed at night.

 

I will keep the agressive on in the new run next to the cube so she is in sight but can't do any damage and I'll let her out for supervised roaming with the other 4 so I can intervene if she gets bolshy. I hope she'll drop in the pecking order from being isolated. Not sure how long this would take. She is really big and strong (absolutely beautiful mrs Pepperpot - I have to admire her even though she's savage - she's definitely evolutions choice for survivor)

 

I don't think I would have got chickens (arrived sept 08) if I knew they could be like this. But I'm glad I did because I hope one day they can all be happy like they were before all this began. I'm sure I'll feel more positive again soon - I'm just exhausted by it all.

[cluckingmad]

hey guys,

 

Hope all the pecked chookies are doing ok - so far i've not had any pecking issues, although am getting some new girls (three poorly ex-batts) at the w/e, so will be stocking up on stuff just in case...

 

was also interested in the idea of cabbage leaves.... any other veggies folks could recommend?! My poor little ladies have the stay in their cube and run all day now that its dark in the morning when we leave and dark before we get home, so anything that makes life more fun fo5r them has to be a good thing!

[The Brown Clan]

I also hang up Broccolli aswell as cabbage and put in dried corn which they have to scrath around for , had this problem with one of my girls and had to rehome her in the end

 

My other two started to regrow their feathers and were looking gorgeous again until the started on the and she started pulling her own feathers aswell so now she is bald again .