jacquie879 Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 Hi We have 9 chickens which we got early last year. The problem seems to have arisen only in the last month. Betty (Maran) used to be one of the head bossy boots chickens but then just before Christmas I noticed that she had lost a bit of weight and feathers, I though she was moulting so didn't think about it too much. Then just after Christmas I went to close them up and saw that Flopsie (ex batt) back was in a real mess all her feathers has been pecked off and she was raw & bleeding. I brought her in the house, the following day I saw that Betty was also nearly in the same state so I bought her inside a well. We kept them inside for 3-4 days and then put them back in the run but segregated from the others with their own Eglu. They were in there for a couple of days then I thought that it wasnt fair for them to be separated & I needed to find who was the problem chicken(s) so I let them out. Winnie (White Sussex) & Roxie (Goldline) seemed to be the culprits. Roxie mainly, so I separated those two. Betty was an altogther different chicken, far more relaxed. After 3 nights I put Winnie & Roxie back but Roxie went back to her old tricks and Betty was a nervous wreck, hiding behind the pots in the WIR & generally acting in a scared manner so unlike her usually. So Roxie is back in the sin bin once more, & has been for 5 days. I really don't know what to do next. Any advise welcome. Thanks Jacquie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 I too have a bully chicken - the evil Weed, who,if it were not for her wonderful blue eggs,would be living on very borrowed time for the condition she has left 2 of my hens in I have just been out & sprayed them with Nettex anti peck spray (HOW do you get rid of the taste of it in your mouth???), & put an anti pecking ring on Weed,who is most unimpressed. Fingers crossed it does the trick,as poor Violet is now almost naked ...she was actually looking better 3 days ago,so Weed must have really been putting some time into her campaign. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacquie879 Posted January 15, 2012 Author Share Posted January 15, 2012 Hi Cinnamon I've sprayed Betty with the purple spray & Scarper but it doesnt seem to make any difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 I tried purple spray too,but its not much of a preventative I don't think,more of a healing spray. The Nettex anti peck spray is ferocious stuff & does the trick well,according to reports on here. It certainly worked last time & Vi was looking well again,but I guess the effect must wave worn off & Weed went for it again..... It is sold in the Omlet shop. Anti peck rings are worth thinking about too. I have some guest hens here at the moment & one of them has one on & their owner says it has really helped. They stop the hens beak from closing fully,although they can still eat & drink ok,but they can't get a beakful of feathers & pull them out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacquie879 Posted January 15, 2012 Author Share Posted January 15, 2012 Thanks, I'll definately try a anti peck ring on Roxie but she doesnt always peck Betty, it seems that she's stopping her from eating but having said that Betty is acting like a neurotic chicken victim and is drawing attention to herself as well ...who said having chickens was easy???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 Just out of interest,do you have more than one water & food station for them? If she is stopping her eating then it might be worth getting a second Grub (or whatever you use),as she will find it harder to patrol 2 areas at once. I have 4 Grubs for my 6 hens......plus 2 SuperGlugs for their water (but I have had 10 hens in the run in the past) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacquie879 Posted January 15, 2012 Author Share Posted January 15, 2012 Yep have two of each! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacquie879 Posted January 15, 2012 Author Share Posted January 15, 2012 How long do you think I should keep Roxie separate from the other chickens? I'm going to order an anti peck ring & some Nettex or Ukadex as I've heard that's very good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
