Lulabellx1 Posted August 7, 2013 Share Posted August 7, 2013 Hi All We have recently added 3 new POL hens to our existing flock of four. So far there has been a usual amount of tussling going on but nothing too serious as we got them on Sunday and I was off work Monday and Tuesday so they were able to free range all day. Anyway, I was working this morning and so (after Daisybelle escaped when unsupervised) I put them in their walk-in run for a few hours. When I returned I let them out to free-range and noticed that Adrian is bleeding from the base of her comb Naughty, naught hens! Now I'm VERY paranoid as I know that once blood is drawn it can attract further attention. She seems OK in herself and has laid an egg today... I thought the hen-pecking would start to calm down however they seem to be getting more vicious if anything. I have given them different feeding/drinking stations so they don't have to all feed together when in the walk-in run. And I have tried distracting them with a hung cabbage as well, which does work for a little while but not for long. I'm concerned as I will have to lock them up in the walk-in run tomorrow again. Can anyone give me advice on how to care for the wound (should I wash it?) and how to give her a bit of peace when in the run (if at all possible ) and also... how long could this go on for?! xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted August 7, 2013 Share Posted August 7, 2013 If the blood has dried, I would leave it but just keep an eye on it to make sure it's not infected. Hens are drawn to blood and once they have caused bleeding, things can get really serious - do you have any purple spray? It might help both with healing and to disguise the wound and prevent further pecking. If you have a serious bullying problem, then I think you either have to separate the new hens again and try introducing them very gradually, or possibly separate the bully (if it's just one) for a few days. A bit of squabbling and pecking is to be expected, and combs bleed easily, but if blood is being drawn regularly then it could get very nasty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lulabellx1 Posted August 7, 2013 Author Share Posted August 7, 2013 Thanks Olly. The blood has dried and it looks clean. I'm going to put a garlic clove in her water as it is a natural anti-b. I have decided to allow the old girls out to free-range tomorrow (as they have never tried to escape and free-range unsupervised quite often) and leave the new girls in the walk in run. That way they can be separate but still within clucking distance of one another. When I get home I'll let them all free-range together again. When they are free ranging they pretty much leave each other alone... too many worms to find I suppose! Bye bye to my raspberry plant that was looking nice and healthy! I don't have any pecking spray, but I'm going to get some I know how vicious they can get once blood is drawn. A friend of mine had chickens and she had a really bully of a hen who pecked one of the little hens vent so much it bled... then they just wouldn't leave her alone. She died sadly... but it has taught me a valuable lesson! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
good_egg Posted August 7, 2013 Share Posted August 7, 2013 BHWT recommends Vaseline on combs so beaks of pecking hens slide off instead of hurting... Are you able to split the WIR so you can leave them in sight but not touch? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lulabellx1 Posted August 9, 2013 Author Share Posted August 9, 2013 Thanks guys, the original wounded chicken has healed very well and hasn't been attacked like that again. However, the same bully hen pinned down another one of my other new ones and made her bleed in the same place tonigh (her comb) It was when they were heading off to bed, she picks on them for a bit at bedtime by not letting the new ones in the coop. Eek, I hate settling new hens in... I just want them all to settle down and be friends! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millie-Annie Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 I was going to suggest vaseline too. Smear their combs and wattles with it. It works really well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
