Smiler33 Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 We have a bit of a problem here as we think one of our chickens, Tikka, is pecking feathers out of the other girls. Mabel and Peckish lost feathers on their necks which are now growing back so think they're just moulting, but Betsy, M and P have all had feathers pecked from their undercarriage and I caught Tikka pecking Peckish just there on Sunday. Tikka has no feather loss whatsoever. I don't know how to keep them occupied - they are in a Cube with a run on it and we've fenced off a slice of the back garden for them. It's very muddy out there so I tend to keep them in until lunch time (to be sure they have their pellets), then let them out, give them some s"Ooops, word censored!"s/corn etc and they put themselves to bed and I shut them in properly about 5. Has anyone got any ideas what I can do to keep them entertained? The chap at the feed store thought they sounded like they could be a bit bored and suggested sprinking some corn in straw for them to forage in but apart from that I'm a bit stumped. Many thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 You could put perches, mirrors, hanging a cabbage etc in the run to amuse them. How big is the run? Maybe they need more space so could you let them out of the cube run earlier? If you are not giving them any treats until nearer bedtime then they should be getting all the pellets they need. If the problem persists you may need to isolate Tikka for a while - or just spray all your girls with that horrible anti pecking spray and that may be enough to put her off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 I agree with chickenbark. Hanging cabbages are good, when I do this I find my girls still eat their mash as it's easier food than the cabbage, but as the cabbage is so tasty they keep coming back to it which keeps them occupied. Perches are a good idea too, or logs of different heights that they can hop onto. Could you give them a dustbath, mine like to dustbath most days and often spend half an hour or more in there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sari Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 Mine have cabbages and logs....they love them, I swap them around, leave some outside for a week or so, so they get all damp and buggy...all the more fun....I hide some corn and grit and wigglies in the crevices...it takes seconds, and the hens love it! I bought a couple of pecker bar things that hang up..and they are hard to peck, so last a long time My daughters threaded some manky brussell sprouts onto a skewer and the hens when mad for them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfie Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 Sprout trees (h)entertain our gang! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
