Locking Bar Eglu Classic

[newcountrygirl]

My Polish Frizzle is causing me real concern and I feel at the end of my tether. I have had chickens for nearly three years and have never had this problem before.

 

About a week ago i noticed that both her wings were really bad - bleeding and the feathers just stubs where the wing meets the shoulder. I bathed them and put on Gentian violet. They seemed to be healing nicely. In the meantime I sprayed the hen house and all the chooks with lice spray even though i couldnt see any signs of them. I noticed that one of the Wyandotte bantams kept giving her a peck every time she went past so put her into a dog crate inside the run. Next thing - she was bleeding again which makes me think she is doing it to herself. I decided to put the Wyandotte into the crate instead to see if there was any change. For two days she seemed to be healing nicely. She is a lovely little thing and is eating well. Went this morning and low and behold both wings a bloody mass again.

 

I feel so down about this. Dont know whether to keep on or admit defeat and have her PTS which I dont want to do but am getting nowhere. I am going to keep her in the crate for a few days and see if she is doing it to herself. Then I will try putting a collar on her to stop her pecking and see what happens - after that if no improvement I fear I will have to let her go.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

That must be hard to watch . Would a poultry saddle cover the affected areas, I wonder?

[Patricia W]

I think feather pecking may be a feature of Polands. It has been a perennial problem for me as I have 8 of them. It is not only them pecking each other but the bigger ex-bats taking a bite too! My solution has been to bumpa bit the ex-bats and they then do stop. The bumpa bit falls off after about 2 months and by that time the cycle has been broken, in most cases. The exception has been Phillip the Polish cockerel. They LOVE his white flowing locks and have picked huge holes in his head sometimes so he has had to be separated for his own good. He now lives with 2 others in his own eglu. They still try to peck him though the run!

 

The three bantams who are too small for bumpa bits, get sprayed blue/brown but nothing works to stop Madonna the smooth Polish plucking the two frizzles. It only happens in the summer though and she lets them grow feathers back in the autumn. Fingers crossed she hasn't started this year - yet.

 

I have come to the conclusion that I have to separate some for their own good. Sometimes, this just means letting the victims free range away from the " baddies". Again that helps break the cycle.

[newcountrygirl]

Thanks both of you I will look into the saddle idea too. The thing is i think she is doing it to herself and so I dont know if that would help.

 

I have just looked at the saddles but they dont cover the part where she is pecking. It is on the top of each wing where it would meet the shoulder if you know what i mean. Then going down the wing. I did try putting a crepe bandage on but the trouble with that is she cant fly up onto the perch at night. i am at a loss with this.

[Chortle Chook]

I would definitely try a collar (loo roll inside as suggested on the other post) and see if that breaks the habit and allows her time to get better. Once she gets feathered up again you could re-home her to someone who already has Polands or who has other gentle breeds such as Silkies with whom Polands seem to mix nicely.

[newcountrygirl]

Thanks shabbychic. I am pretty sure she is doing it to herself and that the Wyandotte is just exploiting the situation because she saw blood. I have put the poland back into the crate in the run and am going to watch her for a couple of days. If more blood appears then i know for certain she is doing this herself. i will then try the collar and hope i can get her to heal up.

 

They were three newbies together who were introduced to my other two girls last September and up to now have had no trouble at all with bullying so just couldnt understand it. I dont really want to have to rehome her cos she is my favourite and loves a cuddle.

[Chortle Chook]

I've thought of something else. Could it be that she has a protein deficiency? One of my Polands got into the habit of picking up old feathers and trying to eat them. I worried that it would give her an impacted crop and decided that perhaps she needed more protein so I've been hard boiling some of the eggs I get and feeding it back to her directly. I also give her yoghurt. The problem seems to have stopped. Would this be worth a try?

[newcountrygirl]

I will try that Shabbychic. Have been giving her some cider vinegar but i will try. Could i give her actimel drink do you know - my hubby has this so i always have a supply in.

[Chortle Chook]

I don't know about Actimel but I have certainly given my chooks Benacol before now. Guess you could try a little just to start with.

[newcountrygirl]

will do