Locking Bar Eglu Classic

[Tweety]

My little black frizzle Pekin cockerel Alex is being pecked by one or more of his 3 girls, so much so that he now looks like a TNN! I have tried anti-peck spray, purple spray, aloe Vera gel, and nothing has made any difference. I also changed their feeders in case he was rubbing his neck on the grub. I wondered if it would be wrong to separate him from the girls until his feathers have regrown? I should add that I don't know the identity of the pecker - I have watched them for days and never seen any pecking! I have checked him over for beasties but there is no sign of anything that might be causing feather loss, so as a last resort I thought maybe I should isolate him although I am worried that he will be very unhappy if I do so. Any advice gratefully received.

[cluckbok]

Hi ya, he sounds gorgeous!

 

i would separate him but can you not put him where he can still see the others and they see him? We just had to separate our little silkie "Flump" as our Matilda was bullying her and I had seen her do it. We gonna get more silkies to mix with her instead, something her own size. I hope you get him sorted soon!

[keyhole kate]

Could he be moulting I have silkie hen but if she has moulted I have never noticed but losing neck feathers is how my big girls start there moult

[Plum]

Could be that one of them has a dietery deficiency causing them to eat feathers. What about a tonic? More likely to be moult if you haven't seen it. Any feathers in the run?

[Patricia W]

I've just been through this with Phillip. He's a White Crested Black Polish and should have flowing white hair. At the moment, it's a mixture of purple and brown ( Ukadex!) with a huge bald patch. We added 2 Aracauna's to the flock and being tall they look down on him a bit, so they decided he needed his hair styling - and proceeded to peck a nice bald patch! Then two of the ex-bat's decided to join in! The wuss just stood there and let them!

 

After trying anti-peck spray, ukadex etc, we've resorted to bumpa bitting the offenders. It seems to be working.

 

If your's are bantams, then you may have a problem finding bumpa bits that fit. But good luck!

[Tweety]

Thanks everyone. I had thought it might be moulting, but his skin looks quite red and sore hence the aloe Vera gel. There are no feathers in their run or inside the eglu, so they are obviously being eaten. I do give them a tonic in their water, one week per month, but I will keep them on it for longer and see if that helps. I am loathe to isolate him from his girls - never having had a cockerel before, I'm not sure if this would be more problematic than isolating a hen - so will try the tonic and keep my fingers crossed. Thanks again!