snailsandchickens Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 I have just noticed that my poor black rock has a bald neck is she being pecked bald by the other chooks and what do I do nowas it is so cold do I put a sock round her neck to keep her warm and what can I do to stop it???? Help me please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 Naughty girls. Are you sure it's pecking because a moult can start on the neck. I would get some antipecking spray. Ukadex is said to be best or the Netex one. I wouldn't worry about the cold because it is only a small proportion of her body and a neck covering could get caught with dire consequences Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snailsandchickens Posted December 2, 2010 Author Share Posted December 2, 2010 Me girls are not as far as I know old enough to malt I got them in June/July time they we POL then, I will try the spray and hope it works although there has been no more feathers gone missing I had put some polestyrerin in the coup to keep it from freezing on the inside but they have pecked that to bits I think it is time for a rethink on their coup it has a metal top so gets really cold thank for the advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted December 2, 2010 Share Posted December 2, 2010 How many chooks do you have compared to feed and water stations? Adding a few extra might help to distract the peckers and help the peckee get a feed without being botherd. PS - don't get the anti-peck spray in your mouth - tis nasty!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snailsandchickens Posted December 6, 2010 Author Share Posted December 6, 2010 Hi I have four chickens in a run of 9+8 foot and I have one grub and one glug plus a tin bowl that I put bran and raisins in for their breakfast not every day but mostly when it is cold I make it hot for them they are still laying and the poor chook that got the pecking I thought was the boss of the clan I think maybe they had a barney and she came off worse she is still the top choke as she always get the food first funny things thanks for the help and the advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 Hens will peck polystyrene, so avoid putting that in the run - someone posted recently about insulating their drinker with polystyrene only to find it had all been eaten. One food and water station is fine for four hens, if you think there's a bit of bullying going on then it can help to add another one, but to be honest sometimes hens peck each other no matter what you do; as long as it isn't severe or causing bleeding, you may just have to put up with it. Anti-peck spray may put the bully off and help to break the habit. Hanging up food like corncob, cabbages etc, will give them a distraction, but I do all this and still have hens with bald spots - sometimes it just happens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bevmatt Posted December 13, 2010 Share Posted December 13, 2010 Hens will peck polystyrene, so avoid putting that in the run - someone posted recently about insulating their drinker with polystyrene only to find it had all been eaten. One food and water station is fine for four hens, if you think there's a bit of bullying going on then it can help to add another one, but to be honest sometimes hens peck each other no matter what you do; as long as it isn't severe or causing bleeding, you may just have to put up with it. Anti-peck spray may put the bully off and help to break the habit. Hanging up food like corncob, cabbages etc, will give them a distraction, but I do all this and still have hens with bald spots - sometimes it just happens! A friend of mine puts polystyrene into the coops for the birds to peck... It passes through them with no ill effects and it keeps them occupied so they don't peck each other.... have to say I think its a bit wierd and have never fancied trying it myself but just thought others may wish to try it. I had a Croad Langshan boy that kept having his tail feathers pecked out whilst they were trying to grow - I tried EVERYTHING and nothing worked. In the end I brought him into a stable for 2 weeks away from the other birds let his feather grow through and then put him back out with the others... no pecking since. It seems that whilst the quills are poking through they are just too attractive for the others - once bleeding occurs it is a vicous cycle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
