weeezelll Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 (sorry for the long winded sounding subject; i don't know how else to phrase it! ) A bit of context; over the summer (July), while we were away on holiday, one of our 3 ex-bats (Sindy ) was apparently attacked in the night by a drunken idiot who broke into our garden and managed to work out how to get into the eglu. The person looking after them for us seperated her and when we got home, we took her to the vet who gave her some antibiotics, skin healing cream and the advice to keep her separate until healed. After a short while (definitely not long enough ), the cut looked fine, and they were free ranging together without incident so we put them all back in the eglu. About a week after the reintroduction though, we came home from work to find that the other 2 had pecked the wound open (and probably made it even worse than it originally was) so we separated them again. We then fenced an area of the garden off so they could still all free range and things were going well until the other 2 managed to scale the fence at one point and continued their pecking. We'd only left them for a short while but they opened up the wound really badly and even caused her to start limping. It was horrible. So basically, they've been completely separate for about 2 months now and the cut looked completely healed. Her feathers were even growing back nicely and after the best part of a week of successful free ranging together, we put them all back in the eglu on Monday just gone. We didn't get home before they went to bed last night so didn't see them at all. Then this morning I went out to find that AGAIN, they'd re-opened the wound - nowhere near as badly, but it was bleeding and the feathers around it had been plucked away. I had to quickly rebuild the makeshift hen hospital that I'd just dismantled in the shed and put her in for the day, and it looks like she'll be in there for a while again. How can I get them to stop pecking!? Even when there was no visible wound, they went for her it's so frustrating. I don't want to keep them separate because it makes it really difficult to give them all a decent amount of time free ranging (and the other 2 make a racket when they're in and Sindy is out - not really an option - we've had complaints from the council etc.. but that's another story). Do chickens remember that one of them had a wound and so will just continually go for it or what(?) Should I get used to having them in different living quarters from now on? Any success stories of reintroduction or tips or anything would be greatly appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weeezelll Posted October 21, 2009 Author Share Posted October 21, 2009 Oh, and sorry that's so long! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 Where is the wound? see the below thread - badly pecked chicken - that chicken now wears a poultry saddle, is that an option for yours maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weeezelll Posted October 21, 2009 Author Share Posted October 21, 2009 Doh.. should've said. It's right in the middle of her back, between the wings. Like, pretty much dead center. I thought about trying to use some sort of cover but I'm not sure how well it would work with the position of her wings at the top, and legs at the bottom.. a tad awkward.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 I'd have a go with the poultry saddle route, if that's where the wound is. It's quite surprising really because hens just don't have a very long memory. I hatch with broodies and when I reintroduce the broody to her former best friends, they have to have a fight to restablish the pecking order, then all is well again after a couple of days. They seem to forget very quickly, then re-adjust quite quickly too. Hope it works out for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weeezelll Posted October 21, 2009 Author Share Posted October 21, 2009 I'd never even heard of a poultry saddle but you're right, they look like they'd do the job.. (and in that other thread, it looks rather fetching) Something like this would be ideal: just need to find somewhere to get them.. But about the memory thing.. surely she wont have to be saddled up forever(?) It seems odd that the others went for it even though it was healed but even when they were all out together, you could see that they were eyeing up her back as if they wanted to do something to it but weren't sure what. Or maybe that's us being paranoid .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 I doubt she'll need to wear it for that long tbh, once they get used to eachother's company again and they can't get at her back, it should be okay. I hope! Just don't go watching any Hitchcock films though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 Lots of poultry saddles on ebay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 What about bumper bits on the girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weeezelll Posted October 22, 2009 Author Share Posted October 22, 2009 I don't know about the bumper bits.. they look a bit.. err.. harsh perhaps(?) Besides, I think they'd shake them off! I found somewhere nearby that says they sell poultry saddles so we're going to take a look this weekend! If not, eBay it is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weeezelll Posted October 25, 2009 Author Share Posted October 25, 2009 After a couple of alterations with a thread and needle, Sindy is now saddled up and free ranging with the rest of them They still occasionally peck the saddle itself but quickly lose interest. I have a slight worry that when she dust baths and moves about a lot, the saddle rides up a bit and exposes the wound again but fingers crossed should be fine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weeezelll Posted October 26, 2009 Author Share Posted October 26, 2009 Consider today a saddle fail came home about an hour ago and they'd obviously gone to bed, so I peeked inside the eglu to find Sindy, saddle-less and bleeding.. The saddle was discarded in the run. I have no idea how she managed to work it off but clearly it wasn't as secure as I thought. She's currently snoozing in a makeshift box in the spare room but I was thinking of trying again in a few days - but tying the saddle on with an extra bit of string or something(?) Problem is, I don't want it to get caught up in her legs or around her neck or anything! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 I think I'd resort to bumpa bits when you refit the saddle- and maybe do it when you're around to keep an eye on things? Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 Oh no My guess is that the saddle is too big for her, which it needs to be to cover her preen gland, but it means it's not snug around her wings. I had to saddle up my two RIR's and the right size one is really tough to get on and off, so maybe you need to shorten the straps that go around her wings? I don't like bumper bits at all, but they might be the only answer for your nasty beasties!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
