Ariella26 Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 Yesterday I noticed that Jemima, my white leghorn hybrid, had sustained some bleeding and feathers are missing from her vent area. We sprayed her with purple spray and also sprayed all the hens with anti-pecking spray on their vents. Today poor Jemima was hiding in the cube for much of the day. I observed her for quite a while and she happily came to eat her porridge this morning and has been drinking. She's laid a nice egg too, but I could tell that the others weren't giving her any peace. It didn't seem to be just one bully but all the other hens were having a go, clearly drawn towards the blood. We decided to isolate Jemima and have put her in the outside guinea pig hutch ( the guineas and rabbit go in their large 5' winter hutches in their own playhouse for the winter), so we filled it with paper and straw and Jemima has the 3m run to scratch about in and have some fresh air. We gave her bleeding area a good spray with purple spray and although it was bleeding, I couldn't see any prolapse or wound that needs stitching. She's loved scratching around in peace this afternoon and is still feeding and drinking well. I'm hopeful she'll make a full recovery, but how long should I leave her in the 'hospital wing' for? Do I need to let the wound scab over and do I need the feathers to start growing back before I reintroduce her to the flock? Will they recognise her or treat her as a newcomer to the flock and start on her? Until now Jemima was top of the pecking order. On closer inspection we've seen that three of the other hens have feathers plucked in the same area though there's no bleeding. They have plenty of enrichment in their 5m run - perches, pots, hanging CD's, hanging parrot bells and mirrors and they have fresh food and water daily and regular peckabloks, though they didn't eat much of the last one I put in. I even made them cookies minus the sugar and filled with some sultanas and mealworms for a pick-me-up treat, which I'll hang from their run tomorrow, to encourage them to jump up and exercise to get them. Their cube is cleaned weekly and I have always given a liberal sprinkling of louse and red mite powder throughout. There is no sign of any lice or other infestations. It's a bit disheartening as I've enjoyed being a chicken keeper thus far. Sadly we lost our speckledy Maran suddenly last month, finding her passed away in the nest box with no signs of injury and no previous signs of illness. I really don't want the other chickens to hurt one another as I find it so stressful. Do I need to keep reapplying the anti-pecking spray on them all? is there anything else I can do? Many thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 Sorry to hear that you are having problems with pecking. If there is any blood you must keep Jemima on her own untl it is healed or the others will go straight for it again. When I had problems with my hybrids a few years ago, I had to isolate Henny Penny, I only had a large dog crate so I put her in it and put this next to the eglu run during the day with protection from the weather so that they could all see each other. I brought her into the utility for the nights. Once she had healed I returned her to the others well covered in anti peck spray and purple spray. I think I had some anti bac powder that I put on the wound to help it dry up and heal quickly. If one is being the bully you may need to resort to a bumper bit, we did in the end for Ivory who kept pecking all the others. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ariella26 Posted November 13, 2012 Author Share Posted November 13, 2012 Thanks Chrissie. Jemima seems to be doing well in her own little wing and the others have had a good spray of anti-pecking solution again. So far, we can't see that any further pecking has been going on but we're closely monitoring the chickens and Jemima won't be going back in until we're confident that she's fully healed and the pecking behaviour has stopped. I'm really hoping this has done the trick and there'll be no need for a bumper bit to be fitted on any of the chickens. Does anyone know how long the anti-pecking spray lasts for and if I need to keep reapplying it to the chickens? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ariella26 Posted November 17, 2012 Author Share Posted November 17, 2012 A quick update to say that Jemima has healed beautifully, the feathers are already starting to grow back and we've just reintroduced her to the flock, removing Beatrice first. We've put Beatrice on her own for a couple of days (housed in the guinea pig hutch, in a run beside the cube run) to allow Jemima to settle back in and to allow them all to have a few days without any feather pulling. The anti-pecking spray must be helping as I can see the ends of new feathers starting to poke through on them. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that when Beatrice is reintroduced, peace will reign. It'll be interesting to see if Jemima regains her role as top of the pecking order or if Beatrice (who has become head girl) will want it as well. I just hope they won't squabble too much.... I've been dreaming about the hens all week and I think my husband is fed up of my nattering on about it all in my sleep. I've found it all to be rather a stressful week but I'm feeling relieved Jemima has healed as I was so concerned we'd lose her this time last week. Time for a nice cup of tea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted November 17, 2012 Share Posted November 17, 2012 Well done you!!! It sounds like you've turned it around nicely!! Intros are always a worrying time and it's hard to watch them sort out the pecking order isn't it?? I am glad I'm not the only one to worry and get stressed out about my chickens!! My hubby also gets fed up with it at times, but when they're poorly he's very helpful!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ariella26 Posted November 17, 2012 Author Share Posted November 17, 2012 Thanks Mimi. My husband has been helpful with moving them about and my eldest son is brilliant at holding them while I give them a thorough spray. I'd have struggled without them. Having me talk about them in my sleep for the past three nights has shown how much they've been on my mind. I worry about them terribly. So far the reintroductions have gone well and it's nearly dusk now so they'll be off to roost together soon. Poor Beatrice has a couple of days in the sin bin however! I feel I've overcome my first challenge in chicken-keeping. Phew! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
