Unsecure chicken perches

[stoice]

My Beryl seems to be balding on the front of her neck, just under her wattles. I'm guessing at the culprit being Blanche as she isn't balding. Maybe she sees Beryls feathers getting wet when she drinks and pecks off the drops of water and feather pecking developed from there?

I only have the two girls at the moment in my WIR so it's not overcrowding, they have several perches, sweetcorn or cabbage swing ball and they get on well. Or at least they seem to. I've checked over both girls and no sign of mites or lice, they're being wormed this week but were last wormed with flubenvet back in Sept. So why would Blanche be pecking Beryl and how can i stop it? The skin doesn't look red or sore, just thread bare. When there are no quills showing at the moment what can i put on Beryl to stop Blanche's attention? I was thinking Johnsons anti peck spray for now around the edges of her bald patch to stop it getting any larger. It's a bit tricky being so close to her face. Is the Nettex version any good? It says it also smells as well as tasting bad, would this affect Beryl in anyway considering it's right under her nose? (Same concerns for Ukadex really). Strangely, my mums girls are having the same problem. She has two 'baldies' and one who isn't.

Any ideas?

[Pikey]

I think I read somewhere that, that can be caused by having the feed to high...their neck rubs up against it. Might be worth lowering it to see if that helps.....??

 

If not think putting anti-peck spray on would be a good idea.

[quickcluck]

As it's neck feathers, could it be a mini moult?

[stoice]

I thought that at first, but it is literally just under her chin at the front, no where else and no signs of regrowing quills yet either. If it's my food dispenser then I'm sure Blanche would also be affected, plus they haven't changed position and I've had my girls for over a year now - unless it's where the feed has got low and she pokes her head inside to rake it out? But again, Blanche doesn't have this. Both girls are laying every day and I've been giving them a little handful of meal worms all winter to keep their protein level up so they don't loose condition or feel need to eat feathers.

[Pikey]

Just one of mine had it due to the grubs being too high

 

Sounds like could be a mini moult then as the area is usually red if feather pecking involved....i'd dust for lice/mites too just in case.

[Daphne]

I've had this in the past and I have it now. In my case its a bully who is in lay and feeling full of herself feather pecking another hen who isn't. I think these feathers are small and scrumptious and easily eaten! I am just monitoring it and I may have to remove the bully, but you could spray (perhaps putting something over her head to protect her). The feathers do regrow.

[stoice]

I guess it could be the feeder. Pretty certain it's not a moult though. No feathers anywhere, she's not off lay, and it's only a tiny patch under her chin, no where else. Will get out the Johnsons anti mite spray just to be sure it's not a deplumming mite or something though.

Don't have a photo so have drawn a picture as I'm at my desk here at work (Not actually working though! shhh)...

[quickcluck]

lol that's quite fab!

[stoice]

Finally got some (Quite bad) pics of Beryl. Sorry, my mobile isn't that great, but it just about shows her little baldy patch. What do you think? A late moult? Or Blanche being a bully?

 

[Daphne]

My baldy girl looks just like that and I've worked out how the bully does it. The baldy bantam stands on top of the drinker, and puts herself just at the bully's beak height

[stoice]

So you've witnessed a pecking incident? So it's not a moult or lice then maybe.

Anti peck spray it is then! Thanks Daphne