Eglu Cube Coop and Accessories

[maryeadrian]

I have 3 girls all about a year old. My GLW is bottom of the pecking order and is getting slowly pecked. Her contour feathers on her chest and back are almost all gone leaving her little fuzzy feathers showing. Both of the others are doing it. I've seen them peck at her while she just sits there and lets them! So I've separated her, but they are right next to each other separated by a fence so they can see each other.

 

I'm not sure why this is happening, if it'll ever stop, or what to do about it. So far no bald spots or blood and I'm really trying to avoid either.

 

Here's what we have so far. They have about 100 sq ft for the 3 of them. They get pellets, greens hung in suet containers, meal worms, yogurt, supplements, flax oil and other food on occassion. They have a Peck a Block, too. I don't think they're bored, they have room and have a good diet.

 

The last hour of the evening I let them all together, she wears a hen saddle and I'm out their with them, squirt bottle hidden to squirt them if they start pecking her. They sleep together everynight without incident.

 

So any suggestions, advice, experience is more than welcome! I'm really at a loss of what to do from here.

 

Thanks!

[Plum]

How strange. I would try some nasty antipecking spray

[staceychristie]

Hmmm, I think you're doing the right thing by keeping them insight of each other. Is your hen poorly? You find that others will pick on a sick hen. Is her poop feed and overall fitness ok?

 

Stacey

[maryeadrian]

We only have an anti pecking lotion here, not spray . and I didn't want to put lotion on her feathers.

 

All of them are active, eating, and running around, talking. Nothing remotely odd to indicate a possible illness. Sometimes I think I have the psycho sisters, though. One follows me, talking up a storm, the other squaks like a goose and the little pecked on one likes to sit next to me and bite me! Or follow as I shovel up the poo and bite me that way. Oh, so very strange, but they are active!

[Space Chick]

Do they peck all the time, or only during dustbaths?

 

I have a few girls that get feather pecked when they are having dustbaths that seem to enjoy it

[staceychristie]

I'd not use lotion, as they might like to try and 'help' her clean it off. I'd just keep an eye on them, and try to intervene until you can get the spray. Last resort (and I HATE using them) are bumper bits. These are rings that fit the birds beak and stop them closing completely. As I said, last resort really

 

Stacey

[maryeadrian]

So glad to get responses. Thanks, everyone.

 

No, they don't do it during dustbaths. She dust bathes alone. But if she's finished and just laying there, one will peck at her and then take her foot and scratch at her back until she moves. Not that she wants the space, she just does it. They peck her throughout the day. Especially if she's on her favorite lower roost, they stand there and peck at ther chest. Otherwise it's her back.

 

I haven't found any spray over hear yet, but I'll keep trying.

 

Ahhh....bumper bits. I looked at them and I'm sure they'd work, but not sure I'm ready for that. I showed my husband who thought like they looked like medieval devices. I guess I'd try them if nothing works and I can't keep them together.

[Burtie14]

Bit of an old post, but just wondered how things are getting on now?

 

Our lowest (Jim) is very slowly going balder round the base of his tail. We've tried Ukadex, tar, purple spray, other anti-peck spray, squirting or seperating the others when we catch them. Now they've obviously got wise to it because we never see any of the others pecking her - so they must wait until we're not around. Clever b*ggers. I suspect it's Ginger - she's the cunning one.

 

Think we're going to order a saddle next to protect Jimbo's back.

[maryeadrian]

The saddle helped her back alot. Didn't take long for her to get used to, either. Though the other two started picking her neck, breast, anywhere the saddle wasn't.

 

Thought I had to give her up. It was just getting worse. Then some one on the USA site told me what worked for her and I've done that. Basically, I split the 100 sq ft run so that two are on one side and the little one on the other. They're separated by deer netting so they can see each other. They can actually sit next to each other if they choose, but she's separate. She has her own house, food, water, etc. Only problem was she'd stand near the fence and let them pull her feathers through the fence! So up went a piece of cardboard and now all is fine. They're all doing wonderfully. My little one seems quite happy, healthy and is growing her feathers back. No problems living in the new house at all. She took to it rather well. The other two are fine together.

 

So that's what we did. Separate permenantly, but so as they can see each other and be near if they choose to.

 

Interesting how yours picked up what you were doing. Smart creatures! Do let us know what happens. I'm always curious what works for others!

[Burtie14]

Thanks Mary. Glad that she's recovering!

 

I think we'll try Jim with the saddle for a while and hope that they don't move onto another area of her. I'm pretty sure that Ginger is the only one doing it (I spied on them from a distance yesterday and saw her nipping while Jim was in the dust bath).

 

If the saddle doesn't work then I'll try sectioning off an area and either seperating Jim to let him (her) recover, or Ginger to teach her a lesson...

 

Can a chicken still dust-bath with a saddle on? Doesn't it get a bit unpleasant for them?

[maryeadrian]

I have to tell you that when Chloe first got the saddle on she walked backwards and in circles and it freaked me out. But I remembered reading something about that. It didn't last more than a minute or two and she was used to it. (Just a friendly warning! )

 

Yes, they can dust bathe in them and groom as well. I didn't believe it untill I saw her actually doing it. I tried Chloe in one for about 4 weeks. It was as if it wasn't even on.

 

I do the spying thing, too! Best way to find out what's happening sometimes.

 

Let me know how it goes!

[Burtie14]

Thanks for the warning! I seriously think that if you hadn't told me that I'd have immediately thought Jim was having a breakdown when he started walking backwards! Saddle is on order - I'll let you know how it goes.

[Burtie14]

Well, so far so good. Jim* was unbelivably calm about having his coat put on, and although he pulled at it for a few minutes afterwards, now he seems pretty happy with it. He certainly looks very dapper and it doesn't look like he's got any fresh wounds so fingers crossed, things are looking good.

 

*Jim is a hen by the way.

[maryeadrian]

That's wonderful!!!! Would love to see pictures of Jim* with the coat on! Hope this works out!

[Burtie14]

Yeah, I definitely need to take some pics. I'll put some up at the weekend. He doesn't look quite as silly as I thought he might. But he definitely looks quite handsome, and I suspect he's nice and cosy too.