Brooding hen has chicks in nesting box

[JEAN]

I am worried about my girls. We have had them since mid October and all of a sudden in the last week my black rocks have all (except one) had some feather loss around the base of the tail/bottom. The two who I believe are lowest in the pecking order have also got skin wounds in the same area.

It being Christmas, I have improvised with human 'wound wash' (chlorhexidine gluconate spray). I thought they were starting to look better but this morning the wounds are raw again. I have ordered a pecka block, gentian violet and some wound powder and am hoping that they arrive this week. I have used red mite powder in the house and louse powder in the nesting box just in case.

Is there anything else I can do? I have some bitter apple spray that I used when my puppy was teething - would this be worth a try?

Also regarding free ranging - could they be bored. We make sure that they are supervised free rangind each day but the time varies and obviously they have had less over the last few days because of Christmas. Should I try letting them free range whilst I am in the house but not in the garden or will they get eaten?

 

Sorry for long blithering message - any help appreciated!

[Carol U]

Sorry to hear you're having problems Jean. Once chickens have been together for a while

they don't usually suddenly start attacking one another. It could be that yours are starting a natural moult and maybe one or more is feeling a bit out of sorts because of it and taking it out on the others. I'm sure you're doing all the right things with regard to the pecked skin.

I don't know if it's possible for you to separate the pecked ones during the day by putting canes across the run or something? As for the freeranging, it will certainly ease the situation if they have room to get away from one another, but it really depends how secure your garden is. Ours is fairly safe and I do let mine freerange while I'm inside but can keep an eye on them through the window and can dash out if they start to sqwawk. It's an awful balance between keeping them safe and still letting them 'be chickens'. Good luck - I hope it all settles down soon.

[JEAN]

Thanks, I hadn't considered it could be a moult. I assumed the hen with no feather loss was attacking the others although I haven't actually seen this.

I am trying the free ranging with me watching from time to time through the window so fingers crossed. We have 6 foot wooden fence on one side and about 4 foot on the other. The hens are surrounded by Omlet netting to keep them on the grass/stop them going on the driveway.

Will speak with hubbie when he wakes up (he was night shift) regarding possibility of seperation.

[chelsea]

Feather pecking and wound pecking is a nightmare isnt it?

 

We had awful trouble with a pecked bum on my Ella for weeks. If the wound is bad and still attracting attention by "the pecker", I would seperate the wounded hen from the offender just until the genetian violet arrives as otherwise it might get worse. Clean the wound as much as you can and maybe pop something you have to hand on it (antiseptic cream etc), and keep an eye on the area cleaning it when possible to prevent infection.

 

Genetian violet/purple spray is very good as it will cover up the blood and also has antiseptic in it.

 

The only thing we found that worked with pecking was Ukadex (very very smelly ), it might pay you eventually to stock your chicken cupboard with some as its very good with naughty peckers!

 

Good luck, I know how frustrating it can be.

[tiggerlady]

Funnily enough we have the same problem! I thought it might be the start of a moult too...it doesnt seem to be vicious and the other hen is the bossy one but doesnt seem to be too bothered about it. Am keeping an eye on it though..and am letting them out everyday,something that had been slipping recently with the joy(!) of Xmas and the associated running around like a lunatic!

[chocchick]

Abbie is going through a full moult and started last weekend

(brrr icon) It is possible.