ladyjulian Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 We've had our ladies for only a few weeks - they've been enthusiastically healthy until we found today that one of them has been pecked at by another. Whilst we were letting the chickens have a wander round the garden this afternoon, we noticed that one of them has been pecked a little more than would appear to be healthy. She's showing signs of actually having had feathers pulled out of her back and on examination, she's bleeding slightly. The pecker is not the one I would expect to be the culprit either. We expected that one of our four would end up being at the bottom of the pecking order, but I'm worried that she's looking in pretty poor shape. We've applied some anti-lick witch hazel stuff meant for cats that we had knocking about as an emergency measure, and I've ordered up a can of chicken anti-peck spray and some poulterers' wound powder. But should we be doing anything else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 You could try separating the feather pecker for a few days. It might break the habit. A bit of extra protein in the diet, and something to peck at in the run, such as a cabbage, might help too. You could fit a bumper bit if all else fails. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladyjulian Posted January 20, 2010 Author Share Posted January 20, 2010 Thank you Egluntyne! If it gets any worse I'll try separating them, but that's a real last resort, as it would mean putting Christabel (the pecker) in a box by herself, which I wouldn't be too happy with. (They have a lovely big run, but we can't let them free range without supervision due to the foxes.) I guess I could try putting a partition in the run... *hmmm* I'll sort out a protein fix for them. I thought the layers pellets would be a complete food, but possibly not, judging by the way they go loopy for the worms when I'm digging the veggie beds! They already have a Bramley apple and a cabbage hanging in the run. I've heard a free CD hung up is good for entertainment - anybody know if that's right? Otherwise it's bumper bits... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ophelia Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 I have a similar problem with my ex-batts. Top Chicken Chewbacca (she sounds more like Chewy in Star Wars then a hen) pecked and pulled so many feathers out of the littlest chicken Beaker. When Beaker died (digestive infection) she turned her attention to the other two. Dorothy had a big bald patch on her back and sp"Ooops, word censored!" tail feathers and Camilla was often bleeding from plucked tail feathers. As the anti pecking spray was not working (I tried three types) and I was unable to separate them I had to resort to bumper bits. I felt awful when I first put the bumper bit on Chewbacca but a little discomfort is nothing compared to the problems she was causing the others. Two weeks later Dorothy’s bald patch was covered with new feathers but Camilla appeared not to have a tail. After close monitoring over the weekend I discovered that Dorothy was yanking Camilla’s feathers. I fitted her with a bumper bit immediately. As soon as Chewbacca saw that Dorothy had a bumper bit she ran over to her and tried to yank it! Chewbacca still tries to peck the other two even when they are out FR round the garden. I am hoping by the time the bumper bit falls off she will have forgotten about pecking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladyjulian Posted January 20, 2010 Author Share Posted January 20, 2010 Ophelia - that's the same as ours, Christabel (the big bully!) is going for Adela even when they're free ranging. I had an unexpectedly short day at work today, so they've been out for a good four hours (2 in the morning, 2 in the evening) where I could watch them. I bathed Adela this evening and put some wound powder on the sore bit and some anti-peck spray on her (ye gods, that stuff is nasty.) This is the gory spot on her back where Christabel's gone for her: There's no new blood since yesterday, but I'll keep an eye on her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ophelia Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 Oh dear, that is nasty but at least you are keeping it clean and keeping an eye on it. If it does get worse and the pecking doesn't stop I would advise to try the bumper bits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quirkas Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 One of my chickens has just started pecking the others a few small bald patches but no broken skin yet. I rang Omlet to order an anti peck spray and they suggested a few drops of TeaTree oil on my hand then smoothed over the others feathers as it is a nasty taste. Have others tried it? Is it a boredom thing? I have to say Arwen the offender has always been a pecky girl with feet and hands. Quirkas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 22, 2010 Share Posted January 22, 2010 Having seen the photo, I'd recommend that you get a poultry saddle for the pecked girl. Two of my hens had similar done to them last year and a poultry saddle stopped it in its tracks. Unfortunately, no use for pecked knicker areas, but you can't have everything. They now sell poultry saddles in the Omlet shop.....or you can get them via Ebay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladyjulian Posted January 23, 2010 Author Share Posted January 23, 2010 I'd never heard of those before! What a good idea. The anti-peck spray seems to have done the trick for now. Two of the others thought about pecking her earlier and stopped in their tracks. She's healing up nicely and looking a lot more cheerful. If it starts again, the poultry saddles look like a genius solution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
