4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[BethBubbles]

Hi all. I was hoping you would be able to help us. We came home yesterday and Mr Fantastic was dead in the coup. The others were pecking her body and we assumed she had died of something and they started pecking her after she had died.

 

Then we let them out this morning and Fajhita has lots of blood on her back and it looks like they have all pecked her really badly. There seems to be two main culprits but they all seem to be pecking at each other suddenly. We have seperated Fajhita.

 

To give you some background, they are around five months old and we are not sure which ones are boys and which ones are girls. I think Mr Fantastic was a girl though.

 

Obviously we are very distressed and don't know what to do. I think we need to separate some but not sure who or how. I have tried to phone our local bird vets but they're unavailable until Tuesday. Also tried to phone various local farms but they seem to be closed for the weekend too.

 

Please if anyone can help or give advice it would be really appreciated.

 

Let me know if you need more info.

 

Beth

[Guest]

what is your set-up like? Do they have enough room, enough feed/water stations, enough diversions to keep them occupied?

[BethBubbles]

Two grups and two glugs so should be ok for food and water. They have perches and CDs handing from the celing too. I just gave them lots of meal worms which obviously stopped them for a few minutes whilst they ate them but they're bound to start again.

 

I've been trying to phone all the local farms but can't get through to anyone. I need some advice big time! We're concerned we will need to rehome some of them.

 

If anyone can help, message me and I'll give you my number to call me.

 

[Redwing]

Separate Fajita out in to a temp home like a dog crate or a large cardboard box for now, clean up the blood and take a look at the wound, if its small it should scab over quite quickly if not you will need to keep her in the crate for a bit once you are happy that its healing get your hands on some veterinary purple spray (you can get it from horsey shops) and spray that on before putting her back with the rest, the sight of blood makes them peck more and the purple will cover the red

 

Are the chicks all the same age and size?

[Patricia W]

How much space do they have in the run? Do they free range? We had a problem for a short time with 3 bantams in the standard eglu run. They picked on one. It all stopped though once I decided to let them free range. I'm lucky in that I can, but I also bought an extension in case I ever need to confine them more again.

 

You will also get a pecking problem if you have more than one cockerel. They kill each other so need separating before they get too big.

 

Can you borrow an eglu/other house so you can separate them into smaller groups. Wish I was nearer to help

 

Tricia

[quickcluck]

All good advice!! Also try anti peck spray and send off for some bumper bits asap!

[BethBubbles]

They're now doing it to another one. I've separated her and put fajhita in the cube and locked the door for the time being. About to let her out for a run by herself in the garden so she can have a break. Desperately need to get some bumper bits today. Can anyone help? Anyone live anywhere near London where we could drive and borrow some? We would be able to drive about two hours? I really don't know what to do. They seem to be killing each other! Please help!

[Egluntyne]

Once they have tasted blood, they get a liking for it I'm afraid.

 

Time to sort out the lads from the lasses...the problem might have started with two cockerels fighting, and I agree about isolating Fajita.

[Redwing]

I have two spare bumper bits and also some purple spray and anti peck spray you could have, I live just outside Northampton but could drive down towards the M25 to meet you??

 

I also have a large dog cage that I can lend if necessary

 

I am a little concerned that your problems there might go beyond bumper bits though and do agree with Egluntine that you do need to decide who is a boy and who is a girl and try and make separate living arrangements but am willing to drive to meet you or even come and help you if necessary

 

I will pm you my mobile number

[Egluntyne]

Such a kind offer Redwing.

 

I never cease to be amazed at the generosity of Omleteers to a fellow hen keeper in difficulty.

 

I'm filling up here

[chiocciare]

Sorry I've only just seen this.

I'm in Romford, Essex and i've got some bumper bits to spare.

Pm if I can help

 

Lucy

[BethBubbles]

Thank you so much for all your generous offers. I'm overwhelmed. We have separated them into smaller groups which has temporarily resolved the problem but I totally agree, it's time for the boys to go. We're going to take two definite boys to live on a farm tomorrow and then a vet is going to come round next week to try and work out the others.

 

Some of the ones we think are girls are copying the boys bad behaviour so we hope bumper bits will help with them.

 

Redwing that is such a generous offer but I couldn't ask you to travel so far.

 

However, Lucy if you wouldn't mind lending us some bumper bits we would be massivly thankful. I will send you some back as soon as we get some or give you some money - which ever you prefer. We can come first thing in the morning or even this evening? When would be best for you? It's very easy for us to drive from Leytonstone to Romford. I'll PM you too.

 

Thank you so much everyone. You've really made me feel so much better. It's been an awful day! Fajhita is looking much better already though and is enjoying some meal worms as a treat!

 

Thanks again.

B xxx

[Tulip]

Redwing and Lucy, you wonderful people. Hope it all settles down soon, Beth. Keep us posted x

[Budgies]

Whew!!

 

What lovely people you all are!! Beth I hope things start to settle soon

[Redwing]

Thats a relief, good work!

 

someone in Oxfordshire on ebay sells bumper bits if you need more later, they get them out extremely quickly too

 

All the best! it sounds like you are on the way to getting sorted

[BethBubbles]

Phew! Lucy came to our rescue yesterday (thanks again!) and we have now fitted bumper bit to all the chickens. It was quite a task but we're really glad we did it. This morning they were still trying to peck each other but now seem to have realised they wont get anywhere and have stopped! We've been watching them all day and all appears to be back to normal. We have reintroduced Captain Jack Sparrow who is totally fine but we're going to give Fajhita a few more days to recover. Thank you all again for your help. I don't know what I would have done with out your advice!

 

B

[Aggienator]

Glad it's coming under control and you can relax! This is the most supportive internet forum I've ever found

[chiocciare]

Glad to be able to help, and glad you got all the bumper bits on I really hate having to do it Don't think I could face fitting 9

Hope things continue to be peaceful.

 

Thank you for the bottle of wine and sorry about the mad house, mad dogs and scaredy chook. I still don't know what came over her

[BethBubbles]

It was quite emotional fitting them all but definitely worth it. They're already used to them and seem to be back to normal. Will have to keep an eye on them though.

 

We planted a new tree and made a nice memorial to Mr Fantastic which made us feel better.

 

Thanks again Lucy. We really appreciate it. Your doggies are soooo cute!

 

[BethBubbles]

I just wanted to let you all know that Fajhita is back to normal now and has been helping my boyfriend with the gardening all morning. I brought her in and she fell asleep on the Encycolpedia of Chickens!

 

[Redwing]

Thats great news! love the pic

[Eggquisite]

Very impressed with the level of offers & support.. well done guys Feels like one we're in one very big, happy coup..

 

Hope you manage to resolve the situation very soon - good luck Bethbubbles!

 

[BeckyBoo]

So glad it seems to be resolving now, can I just ask, is Fajita definitely a girl? She seems to have quite a lot of headgear for 5 months, and just to contradict what someone else put, boys don't always kill each other. Out of the two hatchings I did last year and the 6 or 7 cockerels that resulted it was only really two that ever fought, the rest were just submissive to the dominant boy, so I don't think boys are always exclusive.

 

Anyway, good luck, hope your chook continues to improve

 

BeckyBoo

[BethBubbles]

No, we're not 100% sure Fajhita is a girl - in fact she's one of the ones we're still unsure on. We're just hoping she's a she since we've taken to her so much! Is the general consensus boy then? That would be a disappointment. Mind you, after this weekend, as long as he/ she is healthy we are happy!