3.6m Omlet Chicken Run for sale, Brand New in Boxes, Milton Keynes (MK19)

[hunkydoory]

I have recently restocked after loosing our 2 original girls at about 4 years of age in April (come back Betty 'Psycho Chicken'; all is forgiven).

 

I now have 2 Rhode Islands - Cookie and Pecky and a beautiful, sweet natured Pied Sulfold - Totty (after T. Hotspurs - blame the husband!) all about 30 weeks old.

 

For the first few weeks all was going well, a few discipline isssues whilst they worked out who was top chuck, 3 eggs a day already, even if they are on the small side. Then last week one of the RI's starting plucking at Totty, earlier this week a bald patch appeared on the back of her drumstick area. I was planning to do the Ucadex thing over the weekend but when I got home today to find her bleeding with a much bigger bald patch and even some traingular (beak shaped wounds that have exposed the underlying muscle I have observed the culprit using her feet to pin the poor thing down in order to peck at her - unprovoked and random.

 

I have used antiseptic spray and we will be seeing the vet tomorrow morning, for the time being I have taken Totty out. She is currently happily free ranging and will have 5* overnight accomodation in the garage -with mealworms.

 

A couple of questions..............

 

Can I do anything/feed anything to accelerate healing?

Any advice about infection control - my big worry?

Will the bully ever stop?

Is it true that plucking can lead to canabalisation and if so now the culprit has tasted blood will that be an issue?

Have things gone too far?

 

Please help - After 4 fairly problem free years I feel at a loss

[Plum]

Heck bad girl. Not had much experience but someone else will be along soon.

 

I think the vet will probably give antibiotic cover to prevent infections and sounds like Totty needs a stitch or two. I think you've done all you can with the antiseptic spray to prevent infection. Veterinary powder is supposed to be good for wounds but yours sounds bad. Guess like humans she need protien and vitamins to heal so perhaps some extra tuna or mealworms like you say and some poultry tonic.

 

To stop the others doing it again I guess I would keep her seperate until there are no signs of blood or you can disguise it with purple spray and use the Ukadex to stop your RIR pecking. Trouble is she will probably look for blood in an area she's found it before so I would be vigilant when you finally put them together again. I find mine search out red vents having pecked one before or they may be looking for eggs.

 

If your RIR was pinning Totty down it sounds as though they were sorting out the pecking order again as they mature. Or do you think they may have been in too small a space

[hunkydoory]

If your RIR was pinning Totty down it sounds as though they were sorting out the pecking order again as they mature. Or do you think they may have been in too small a space

 

They have the eglu classic and are secured in the run over night but over the day time the run is opened and they have an additional area of approx 2 x 1.5 meters. I also let them have full range for periods over the weekend when I am around to supervise. They also have a water and feed stations in both the run and the outer space. I think (hope) thats enough space?

[Plum]

Sounds good to me. Good luck at vet

[cartref1518]

My 2 arrived yesterday with a Eglu Classic. Both beautiful birds but the Gingernut Ranger pecks at Miss Pennypot even to the extent of pulling out feathers.

 

I know about establishing a pecking order but this seems a bit extreme.

 

Does this UKADEX stop the behaviour?

 

Urgent advice needed.

[hunkydoory]

My 2 arrived yesterday with a Eglu Classic. Both beautiful birds but the Gingernut Ranger pecks at Miss Pennypot even to the extent of pulling out feathers.

 

I know about establishing a pecking order but this seems a bit extreme.

 

Does this UKADEX stop the behaviour?

 

Urgent advice needed.

 

In the first few days they do peck and pluck at each other a bit. But, by en-large it looks worse than it appears; generally when they arrive together into a new environment they will settle few days. Admittedly it does look awful. They will probably be the best of friends in a day or two If you get bald patches from the plucking go for an anti-pecking preparation, my understanding is they work with a range of sucess but repeated application will probably be necessary.

 

Have you given them any distractions within the run? Mine have a small log pile (from a felled conifer) - initially created as a bug hotel for my 9 yr old son but it has proved very popular as a bug hunting area for the girls I use ping pong balls suspended on strings, bunches of dark green leaves go down well - even dandilion leaves and cuttle fish bones. Supposedly a good dietary supplement but my lot spend hours tring to get them off the string and once that objective has been acheived the poor cuttle fish is left ignored and disregarded in the corner of the run until I get on my hands and knees to remove it

Welcome to a whole new world of worry!!

[Plum]

Do they do anything with the ping pong balls?

[hunkydoory]

Yes, they usually set them off swinging when they brush past, the movement seems to create the interest. They then spend some time trying to peck the moving target I sometimes put one in the glug too - more for my entertainment watching them get it out. I use the cat toy ones that are bright and colourful, an added benefit if this is that they seem to appreciate the interior design

[Plum]

Crazy Shall try some of those.