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

[hopingforchickens]

I know this is a topic that comes up regularly but I really am at a loss. I am in my fourth year of chicken keeping and it has always been a problem at varying degrees of severity. It is now just one chicken who suffers - ironically not the bottom of the pecking order. One of the culprits has recently died, leaving her not so persistent colleague. Over the years I have tried bumpa bits, beak rings, purple spray, Stockholm tar and lots of distractions. Nothing seems to really break the habit. I'm currently trying purple spray every couple of days and there does seem to be some regrowth, but the spray seems very watery, I'd prefer it to 'stick' a bit more.

Sorry for the long post but does anyone have any suggestions. I'm hoping to get more chickens later this year and want to try and sort this problem out once and for all before then.

[Chickabee]

Sounds like separation might be needed. At least until the one who's being pecked has fully re grown her feathers

[Beantree]

If you have identified the single culprit Hopingforchickens, can you separate her until the habit has been broken?

[Eggasperated]

I had one hen who I could never break the pecking habit with - she ended up living mostly on her own in a house and run next to the other girls. Ironically she is now my only remaining girl and lives as happy as Larry in her eglu with a large electric run fenced area, she is also one of my first girls and is now 6 years old and still lays occasionally. Obviously all that feather protein did her some good .

[hopingforchickens]

I could create a run within the existing WIR which is what I do for introductions but would that create a reintegration problem? What are the best products to encourage regrowth in the mean time?

 

ThAnks for the replies.

[rosecork]

My chickens are currently having a bit of a pecking problem but I seem to have solved it by putting out grit. You may already do this but I never had before. They ignore the flint and pick out all the shell, shell runs out = start pecking again. Also have found that a few sprays of Net-Tex anti-peck stops them for a day or so, but it is really disgusting and smells horrible.

[Chickabee]

It will be a bit of trial and error re integrating them. I think this is a good time of year for feather regrow th, but I think when I got my ex batts they recommended Apple cider vinegar. Bit of extra protein won't go amiss

[gavclojak]

If you have tried bumpa bits and its continued then the only option is to remove the bully. This will do two things, it will give the picked on girl a chance to recover and gain some confidence and will knock the bully down a peg or two.

 

I would maybe keep her separate and take the re introductions really slowly, ideally put the new girls with her for a while and then introduce her back with the new girls into your existing flock.

 

You can up the protein a little if she is re growing feather, there are all sorts of supplements available but TBH I give mine some tuna in water a few times a week

[hopingforchickens]

Thanks everyone. I give them CAV and they have access to grit and oyster shell, as well as crushed egg shell. I will try and isolate the bully to see if that solves the problem.

[Redwing]

Do they have enough space?

[hopingforchickens]

They have a 12x8 run with 2 extra levels and perches plus they free range when I am at home, do you think that's enough?