debbie9946 Posted August 31, 2010 Share Posted August 31, 2010 Hello everyone. I have had my girls for approx 4 weeks now, I have three ex batt hens and one hen who came to me from freecycle. All have been getting on brill until a couple of days ago. I have been reading up on the pecking order and have watched as they have all taken their place. I am a little concerned though as for the past two mornings I have opened the shed door to find feathers everywhere. On further inspection, one of the girls now has a distinctive bald spot with what looks like the base of the feathers still there (looks like a small bunch of straws). Do hens just bite the feathers off? I am going to invest in some anti peck spray. I am lucky that my girls have been able to free range for a couple of hours a day, but as soon as they go back into the run/shed they start bickering.....Any advice appreciated. Also do we know what breed they are...Ive no idea, will try to add a pic.. http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?pid=6821351&fbid=484547536678&id=815381678 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted August 31, 2010 Share Posted August 31, 2010 We can't see your picture, more information on uploading pictures to your posts *HERE*. Anti pecking spray should do it, maybe its boredom? Try getting something for them to peck at. Maybe a hanging corn on the cob, or a pecking block *Hanging Seed Decoration* or they might like the *Bungee Bird Feeder* or i give my girls *Fat Balls* or *Pine Cone Picnic*, there are lots of different boredom breakers. Good luck, hope i helped! Edit: The 'straw like' things might be just the feathers growing back? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted August 31, 2010 Share Posted August 31, 2010 I think Mollie has just about covered everything. Just a thought that maybe they need a protein boost - (tuna or cat food or even scrambled egg etc.) Or maybe they are moulting. My chicken area looks like winter - it is covered in lovely white feathers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karena Posted August 31, 2010 Share Posted August 31, 2010 There is a feather pecking thread currently that has some ideas, and is maybe a bit of a support group for pecker owners too I have had 3 no peck days now hopefully due to things I've changed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted August 31, 2010 Share Posted August 31, 2010 I still can't see your pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbie9946 Posted August 31, 2010 Author Share Posted August 31, 2010 Sorry guys I am not very good at the picture thing. I went in a little while ago to put the girls to bed, and picked up Rosie, I think you may be right, I think she is moulting. A handful of feathers were left behind in my hands when I placed her on the perch. I do have some toys/things of interest in the run, I have a big log for them to perch on and a very large plant pot doubling as a a sand bath. I also like to put up fresh corn on the cob and big leafy cabbage. All of my pics are currently on facebook, I am amazed at the difference in my girls in just 4 weeks. Will try and put up pics, got some belting ones of my girls sunbathing....lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbie9946 Posted August 31, 2010 Author Share Posted August 31, 2010 (edited) my picture is below Edited August 31, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbie9946 Posted August 31, 2010 Author Share Posted August 31, 2010 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted August 31, 2010 Share Posted August 31, 2010 Your ex battery hens will most likely be Warrens (standard brown hens). They are a hybrid bird bred for commercial egg production. Pretty docile and friendly if mine are anything to go by. It's quite likely that one of your girls is having a moult. Do the bunch of straws (feathers) look like little spikey tubes? If so, these are the new feathers growing back. Soon, a new feather will start poking out of the end of the tube and growing. As the feather gets bigger, the 'tube' sheds off - you will notice when this is happening as you will see dandruff all over the henhouse when you open up in the morning! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbie9946 Posted August 31, 2010 Author Share Posted August 31, 2010 Thanks for the reply. Yes it does look like a cluster of white straws. I was really worried because the top hen poppy is a bit of a mare, especially for pecking, and I was worried that she was pulling at rosies feathers. How often do hens moult? Rosie is older than the three ex batts, she came from somewhere else, but was introduced to the three girls the day after I picked them up. I am a complete novice and have never kept hens before. I am learning slowly, very slowly. So please be patient if I ask some really stupid questions. lol Rosie..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted September 1, 2010 Share Posted September 1, 2010 Hens usually moult once a year. It can sometimes be pretty dramatic as they lose all their feathers and start looking really tatty. But once they have re-feathered they look beautiful. Just a small tip - the new feathers that are growing through can be quite sensitive. It's best not to handle a hen who is moulting too much as it can be uncomfortable for them. Don't worry about asking lots of questions, we have all done it when starting our hen keeping journey. And no questions are stupid, you are just making sure you are doing the best for your girls. Your photos look lovely by the way, it's great to see ex-batts enjoying a snooze in the sunshine - something they were never destined to have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
