Chicken bald back

[Foxy Loxy]

I have just got my three hens. First day in the eglu pen. None of them have gone into the eglu yet. However, one of them appears to be a bully and keeps pecking at the smallest of them. They are all of the same size just slightly different ages. It is the youngest but not the smallest that is the bully. I am worried about them all going into the eglu tonight. What should I do?

[chelsea]

put a torch into the eglu, when it gets dimpsy they will follow the light into the eglu. Hope this works

[Foxy Loxy]

What do I do about the bullying though. One of them keeps pecking another?

[chelsea]

ooo err

 

Well I wouldnt have thought they would fight/peck when it gets dark because the chickens should really become docile/quiet/tired. I would have thought they would be ok in the eglu together and it will probably kick off again in the morning.

 

I have no experience of bickering/fighting hens im afraid, but I would imagine once they've settled and the pecking order is established everything will be fine.

[Paola]

They will be fine. They will snuggle up all together in the eglu at night. Try not to worry, they are only sorting out the pecking order.

 

Keep us informed how you get on

[CJB]

I have read on a few other postings that it looks quite brutal but apparantly they will sort there self out.

 

I do not know for sure as it has not happened to me; yet

 

Cath

[MisHapp]

I know it looks brutal but try and leave them to sort it out. Check them to see that no blood has been drawn as that can make things worse, but the quickest way of dealing with it is to let them find their order themselves.

 

It's hard to watch, I know.

 

MH xx

[Jill]

They will find their pecking order quite quickly and sleeping together at night sorts most problems out. Often in the morning they don't remember they did not like each other If there is still some bullying can you give them some space free ranging so they are not on top of each other all the time and maybe a couple of food stations so they don't have to compete.

[Foxy Loxy]

I will definately free range but not for a couple of days until they get used to the eglu.

 

They all trotted into the eglu yesterday. The "in charge" hen went in first followed by the second. The littlest one stayed outside for about 40 minutes looking at it and daring to go in but it took ages. It went in on its own accord in the end and by the sound of it they all had a comfortable night. No noise at all, even when I went down at 7.30 am to let them out. I was so afraid of the noise disturbing the neighbours but the birds in the trees are so noisy this morning you can't distinguish between them and the chickens though.

 

I can't believe how much they poo!

[Jill]

I know they poo an amazing amount don't they!!! Once they have gone into the eglu a couple of times they will do it every night without any problem. The only thing at the moment is that it gets dark so late. I make sure that if they are free ranging in their big pen I get them into the eglu run early evening as I seem to get a lot of foxes about well before it gets dark. Their supper time I guess

[Foxy Loxy]

The run of the eglu is looking a little pooed up after only 24 hours. I was wondering what do other people do with their eglu run. Do they give the grass a bit of a brush to get rid of the poo every day?

[chocchick]

A lot of us don't haev grass anymore

Some people "poo pick" every day or regularly, some people don't. A lot of people have a covering on the floor of the run, and this can be scaped out and replaced every few weeks.

[chelsea]

The run of the eglu is looking a little pooed up after only 24 hours. I was wondering what do other people do with their eglu run. Do they give the grass a bit of a brush to get rid of the poo every day?

 

We use hemcore/aubiose in the run and its a life saver. Once your grass dies down you could always use that in the run.....it soaks up all the wet and the poo's magically disappear, the chooks love scurrying around in it too.

[Jukebox Tim]

The bullying will stop after a few days. Try not to intervene unless one of them is being denied food or water. We've introduced newbies to existing birds before and are doing it at the moment. We squirt the "bully" with a water pistol if it gets out of hand or if blood is drawn.

 

Re the poo situation. 1) Putting garlic powder in their food (available from Omlet or equine feed suppliers, NOT the supermarket stuff) stops the poo smelling so bad - it's also good for their digestive system. 2) A lot of us gave up keeping the run on grass and now use bark. It seems to absorb the poo and is easily raked over, topped up or changed.

 

Tim