chookadoo Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 Hi There, I would like to ask a question about my chickens, they keep fighting with each other and they are looking like oven ready birds !! They are all brown egg layers and are laying the odd totally white egg, could they be deficiant in something? Is there anything I can do? I have eight hens 4 speckled stars and 4 black stars, 2 of them don't come out of the cube they are too scared of the others . They have lots of free rangeing space 10x5meters so not a space problem (at least I don't think so??) I have been told feathers have lots of protein in them and because they are eating the feathers (there are none on the ground at all) that they need more protein??? They are fed on the same food as Omlet sell Organic layers pellets and corn. They do have some bor..... can't remember the name bran as well. Help appriciated, thank so much...... Chookadoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 Don't panic!!!! Some chooks do lay different coloured eggs, so that's all quite normal. Are they bored? Do you have things for them to to do in the run? Logs to jump on? Perches to rest on? Some people find shoe racks really handy! Hang up some treats like greens or broccoli for them to bash about. If you have a feather pecking problem you could get some anti peck spray to try and put them off, or get hold of some bumper bits which stop them pulling feathers out! You can put bokashi bran in the food that will help with runny poo..... Hope that helps, others will be along soon to help more... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chookadoo Posted March 12, 2010 Author Share Posted March 12, 2010 Thanks for your reply. They even have tree's in there run which they can hop onto, We do give them green stuff to eat, brocolie, lettuce..... I don't really want to use anti peck spray as it's really expensive, to me that is a last resort and I woud really like to get to the bottom of why? I have read this behaviour normally only becomes a formed habbit if they make each other bleed (is this true?), they don't make each other bleed. They just pull out each other feathers and eat them We already use the bran stuff, they have normal poo, the odd korma poo but that's all normal?? I just feel lost on this one Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky1 Posted March 12, 2010 Share Posted March 12, 2010 When our girls started ganging up on the new ducks we invested in a super soaker (powerful waterpistol). It did the trick and plus squirting a bully was quite pleasant. Only used it a couple of times - did the trick. It has to be a powerful one though - we did try at first using plant misters - they laughed at us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted March 12, 2010 Share Posted March 12, 2010 Curry poo is normal! Apparently every 1 in 10 is a curry poo!!!! The water pistol is a good idea, I've used that alot, but it relies on you being there, the same a dominating the pecking chook. They may just be sorting out the pecking order, but if it persists you may have to intervene. Where in the country are you, as someone close may be able to help.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickyhazel Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 Younger or more recent chickens can be bullied. Separation helps - for a week seperate the run in 2 with something - bamboo canes work. Give the bullied hens a temporary home like a cat carrier and see how they go. After a week or so re-introduce them and see if it helps. It worked for us! Hazel, Ranger, Audi, Porsche, RIP Chestnut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chookadoo Posted March 22, 2010 Author Share Posted March 22, 2010 Apart from the feather plucking and eating, they are all healthy! They are about six months old and this problem started very suddenly. I have now discussed this in detail with the 'chicken shop' and they have told me that if they are eating the feathers, perticually if they are NOT drawing blood when pecking each other it is probably because they have mineral deficientcy, and poultry spice should help. I have now been using this for a few days (nearly a week) feathers are starting to grow back! Let's hope this continue's as it has been very distressing. Interesting as I thought all that sort of stuff was in the food ! Thanks all for your help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 Some hens just have this as a very bad habit. I had one who used to pull out her own feathers even with a bumper bit on, she never had a full set of feathers. One of my youngsters has just decided that this is a good game, so she has been fitted with a bumper bit too. Google The Wernlas collection, you can get bumper bits from them by sending first class stamps to the value of the bits and they send them to you by return. they do help a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky1 Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 One of my youngsters has just decided that this is a good game, so she has been fitted with a bumper bit too. When I read that I thought you were talking about your children Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
