Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Vikki56]

Hello everyone,

 

Hoping you can offer some advice on our current situation. We have two arucanas both around a year old, we originally had a third but she died a couple of months ago. Since she has left the coop Carmen (the bigger of the two) has taken to pecking Esme's back. We removed her but then found that Esme was actually pecking her own back and that was why it wasn't healing. We have tried isolating them (they screamed for each other until they were put back together), anti peck, the purple antiseptic spray, and bumper bits. The wound has healed a few times but every time one of them ends up opening it back up. I was worried this was because they were short on calcium so they also get calcium supplement in their water. I really don't want to loose either of them but the wound continues to be open (not good) and I'm running out of ideas. Any advice muchly appreciated!

 

Vikki

[jimnpaula]

Is it in a place where you could put a saddle over it? If you can cover it keep checking the wound is healing and no nasties/mites have got underneath. Perhaps a poultry suitable wound care powder would prevent chafing/sticking

 

It may be that by now it's become a learned behaviour and you need to break the cycle. That's partly how bumpa bits are supposed to work, knowing they can't peck means they've forgotten once the bit falls off. Seeing as it's both doing it, did you BB both chooks when you tried them? Might be worth another try?

[good_egg]

I thought it was protein deficiency that could lead to pecking? I was also going to suggest saddle. Perhaps long enough to break the cycle, or bumpa bits for the same purpose. Fingers crossed for you.