Single hen

[miffy]

Primrose has been severly got at again!!!! this is the third time in what seems like a short time, each time before I have separated her, brought her in, fed her up gradually reintroduced her. But then it all starts again, I use purple spray, and tried stockholm tar spray which helped for a while but needs redoing almost everyday, ok in the short term but not long term. I thought we had cracked it but we haven't

The others keep pushing Primrose away from the food even though I have 2 feeding stations in the run. I have tried bumpa bits, but they dont seem to last long and I struggle even with OH to fit them and remove them.

I had some Ukadex couriered to us today as now all 3 seem to be at it( I have caught Primrose fighting back .) I checked them again for lice etc, none, I am making sure they have more time free ranging, putting more logs greenery etc in the run.

 

TBH I ahve been getting so much pleasure from watching them, I find it unbearable to see this carnage.

Sorry for the rambling, my question is should I spray all over the girls or just the effected area, and how often. I just sprayed the effected areas today, on all 3 THE SMELL !!!!!!! made Millie keep sneezing

 

OH refuses to have Primrose in the house now she STINKS, and I have no way of keeping her separate at the moment, seems pointless to separate them when they are all at each other...I AM A BAD CHICKEN MUM...I am obviously doing something very wrong but I have no idea what

[Plum]

I've no answer for you but just wanted to say sorry you are having such a rough time. It could be any of us so don't be hard on yourself. Hope the Ukadex works.

[HENthusiastic]

Try not to be so hard on yourself. As Plum says, it could be any one of us. I have read that chooks are more likely to get into power struggles when they have less space to roam about it. I wonder if it would be worth getting an extension to your eglu run so they have more space when they are in there. Only a though. I'm not really sure. Good luck I hope things improve soon.

[miffy]

thanks, I have wondered about more space, we do have an extension on the standard eglu run, perhaps its just not enough. Cant afford a cube even 2nd hand, would like WiR but not likely at present. Think I'll see about another extension, is ther a limit to how many you can add I wonder......just imagining a snake like run accrss the garden

would like to know more about using Ukadex ......does anyone have any advce please??

[LJ's Chooks]

not sure it helps, but you are not the only one. Our girls regularly have no knickers, and are fitted with bumper bits.

 

This morning i went out to let them into their free range area... and 3 of them looks virtually oven ready

 

We have just got some Ukadex spray too having tried everything else... so we'll see...

 

They have a cube and 2x extensions, but are in a large pen most of the day. Im not sure what to try next except separation, but its not obvious who is doing it... i think they all have a taste for feathers and just dont want to get on with each other. Having said that they play nicely together during the day, it seems like it all goes wrong at night!!!!

 

[miffy]

thanks for your support its good to know we are not the only ones this is happening too. I intend to re Ukadex themevery 2-3 days , and see how we go. Yesterday it was only Primrose pecking and feather pulling so I think the others need more Ukadex, How do people cope when they have lots of chickens , this is horrible !!

[quickcluck]

Well I have 6, all of which are pretty bald i am getting very depondant now as it's been going on for ages. Initially the vet said an allergy and we are still putting cream on every night and the is a bit of regrowth, but it's tiny.

 

Now we caught Sweetie being not so sweet and they are red again, and almost bald on the top of their tales. I caught her jumping on their backs

 

We spray with Ukadex before we let them out in the mornings because of the smell I think i will have to order bumper bits this week.

 

I am very sad. We have a cube and run with 2 extentions and a WIR being built. But have 4 new girls on order, and am freaking out!

[miffy]

allergy?? it hadnt crossed my mind that chickens could have allergies. You are a good chicken mum, creaming them every day

You seem to have plenty of space for your girls and still have problems, so I'm less sure that more space with alleviate our problems. MiL unimpressed when I suggested they may need more space

Do you use Ukadex every day? I'm going to blast the girls all over tomorrow (avoiding eyes) as spot spraying isn't working very well.

hope you sort your girls out soon.

 

could this be a time of year thing??

[Snowy]

I wish I knew the answer to this as well - my girls were all fine until I introduced some new girls. Admittedly I knew the new girls had this problem - it's why I agreed to take them on as their owner couldn't cope, but I haven't been able to crack the habit either despite liberal sprayings of ukadex. Mine have loads of room and height, all the dietary supplements etc. And mine all get on fine during the day, just eat each others knickers at night it appears.

[LJ's Chooks]

thats exactly what we face at night time too... very strange.

 

we have a sick chook today after blasting them with Ukadex spray yesterday.... not sure what is going on. She's very lethargic and not a happy pickle today

[westleigh]

im in the same rough boat that you are in at the moment,and i am thinking of rehoming two of mine as i really cant take much more of the stress so i know how you feel,i have 10 chooks and its easier for me to rehome the two baddies but since all your are at it so too speak it maybe the ukadex will solve the problem,i wish you all the best,keep us updated

[quickcluck]

have you tried bumper bits yet westleigh???

[LJ's Chooks]

Our Araucana has not been laying over the winter and we had a really bad pecking instance --- despite bumper bits on thursday night.... but she layed on friday! Maybe this made her more agressive...? but i am still not convinced its only her cos she has feathers missing too - as they all do

 

I love our chooks and OH has given in now as well and loves them too.... infact he wants to get more.... but i have said no untill we can sort out the issue. They all have bumper bits, Ukadex spray, Toys, hiding places, .... THEY JUST DONT LIKE EACH OTHER

 

Pickle is still poorly too... she seemed better last night, comparatively, so i hoped it was a softee... but not convinced this morning again.... Oh i wish they could talk and tell you what was wrong... Dr Doolittle had it easy

[miffy]

LJ, sorry you are still having problems. I dont know what to suggest at all. BUT have just been and checked the girls over, and I think our policy of sprayong each bird ALL OVER is paying off, they are no worse and indeed Primrose has got a small amount of fluffy regrowth. She remains very light but is drinking and eating, she especially likes to eat from a small plastic pot which hangs on the inside of the run. I think I can see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel, but I'm not celebrating yet, been here before

[LJ's Chooks]

Oh i am high maintenance today.... sorry everyone!

 

Why does Ukadex make skin look bright red..... Its really worried me... surely they will just peck even more on the skin bit????

 

I still can smell it on my hands.... and i know i have to do it again tomorrow.....

[miffy]

I know what you mean about the re bits, I have no idea why they become so obvious after Ukadex.

I usually try to spray purple spray before Ukadex, on sore or bare areas to try to prevent seeing blood and infections. But I dont always either I dont have the time or I forget

 

I do think my girls seem more settled somehow today, time will tell

[LJ's Chooks]

Oh miffy.... im feeling a rubbish mummy... im now convinced the girls are ignoring me.... i have another chook... maisy... displaying the same signs as pickle.... could it just be that i have upset them by spraying ... or could eating feathers with Ukadex on them make them unwell

 

it seems that root has been pecked on her comb too..... i think she's ok, by the time i put them away there was no more blood, it had dried, so it was either a random peck or she caught it on something....

 

Tomorrow has to be better

[miffy]

you are a good chicken mummy, doing all you can in a difficult situation. I am no expert, all I can suggest is worming them, if you havent recently. If you dont have any purple spray I would consider getting some it hides the blood, and is antiseptic. If you are worried about the Ukadex effecting them, perhaps spray them every 2-3 days rather than everyday, this would also give you a break and stress the girls out less.

As I say I am no expert, lets hope someone with more knowledge will be along to help us out.

[LJ's Chooks]

Thanks Miffy.... I needed to hear that!!

 

Both Maisy and pickle seem much better this morning and Root's peck on the comb in no worse.....

 

I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that maisy and pickle just were in a huff... but they did not look well, so quite an act girls!!!

 

I havent had the heart to spray them again, but i am worming them... all except snow angel that did not get a grape this morning.... will try again later

 

 

Id just love maisy and pickle to lay today, just to prove it's ok.... despite the fact i should chuck it cos they are being wormed... and i dont trust myself overdosing them with grapes they steel from each other

 

Today is a good day though

[miffy]

Im so glad you have had a better day . We have had an ok day here,the girls have been rather quiet and not eaten as usual but otherwise ok. They freeranged for a couple of hours today, which they seemed to really enjoy I took the opportunity to place 3 small logs and branches to form an activity area in the run for them . I haven't seen any pecking nor feather pulling today.