Eglu Cube Coop For Sale

[Jill]

I wonder if anyone can give me some advice. I have had chickens for about 8years now and for the first time one of them is getting bullied. At the moment I have four and they have been together happily for about 3years but suddenly one has been pecked in the middle of her back. I am not sure which of the other hens has done it as they still seem to mill about together quite happily during the day. They live in a cube and have a huge area outside during the day so there is no question of overcrowding. Any advice would be really helpful as I am at a loss what to do.

[Tutti Frutti]

I'm sorry your girl's going through the mill. I haven't had any experience as such but saw your post was unanswered so thought I'd throw in a couple of ideas - not sure if they're right or any good, though!

 

Hmmm tricky as you don't know who the bully is - removing the bully is the usual thing. Do you think it happens at the feeder or at night? My top chook only gets bossy when mealworms come out!

 

Maybe you could try putting bumper bits on the other three, spraying the pecked girl with anti-peck spray, giving her a saddle to wear (see here) and, If she's bleeding, use purple spray (eg Gentian Violet) to disguise the dried blood (use wound powder or even corn flour, I think to stop it) and prevent the other girls pecking at her for more blood.

 

Sorry I can't help any more! Hope she improves soon, good luck!

 

PS Welcome to the forum!

[Pikey]

I've not had an experience of bullying....just the odd spat every now and again from the girls.

 

I think you are supposed to seperate the bully so they are on there own for a bit ....but nearby so others can see them...they re-introduce them.

 

Is it cos she has a cut on her back?? They are often attracted to blood and will peck at a wound. Use purple spray and if really bad seperate for a bit whilst healing.

 

Sure some one with more experience will answer soon.

 

Good luck

[Sparklysocks]

About a month ago I very suddenly had a bullying problem with my hens. The situation seemed to escalate very quickly (and from nowhere!). Speckly ended up with some nasty wounds which I had to dress daily.

 

I tried the anti-feather pecking spray which calmed down the bullying but did not stop it. I placed objects and hanging food from the eglu to try and distract them but alas nothing seemed to work.

 

I finally separated the bully (Mighty-White) during the days in a run next to the eglu where she could still see the other hens, I put them all back into the eglu at night.

 

The only solution for this was the 'bumper bits' which I ordered from Wernglas. Once these were on their beaks the bullying stopped and they have been fine together since. They still have the bumper-bits on, I will leave them there until Speckly's feathers grow back (as advised by Wernglas).

 

In hindsight, and following other advice I have read on this forum, I would probably use the bumper-bits straight away. It was really distressing to see the hens being bullied and none of the other methods seemed to work.

 

Wernlas delivered the bumper bits very quickly and I found they took me only seconds to fit onto the beak.

 

Good luck!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Welcome to the forum, Grandmahen and Sparklysocks .

 

Sorry to hear about your bullying problems . Frustrating if it's suddenly come on for no apparent reason .

 

I've only experienced bullying when introducing new girls so used separation until they got used to each other. I did have a bumper bit on hand but never had to use it.

 

I hope you manage to find a method that works for you.

[Sarahsausage]

I had a similar problem that seemed to start from nowhere and found that as soon as the bully (which was Gladys) attacked Rita I squirted Gladys with a water pistol, it seemed to work as after a couple of days the bullying stopped all together.

[legend21]

Perhaps she is unwell, before the bullying started, the others might sense something

 

Good luck

 

Jackie