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

[LHawley88]

We have 6 Oxford Browns / Rhode Island reds (when i search for oxford brown i don't get any results?!) and 2 Pekin Bantams.

They are going around in 2 gangs, but majority seem to be fine with each other. I have one red that is hiding under the coop and getting badly picked on when she comes out for food. I don't really know how to combat this, as she is so timid. The others just get on with it if they are pecked, but she darts around and hardly ever goes near another chicken.

Any suggestions of how to either bring her out of her timidness, or stop the main culprit that bullies her?

[Chickabee]

Is blood being drawn?

 

Have you got extra perches and feeders?

 

It's just to do with the pecking order. You need to provide lots of space for the bullied one to escape and extra feeder and drinkers.

 

How long have you had them?

[LHawley88]

No blood being drawn, the main culprit just pulls at the feathers on the back of her neck, or pulls her wattles.

We have one big feeder, and two drinkers. The coop can hold 15 chickens and has 5 perches, and 8 nesting boxes.

We've had them for about a month now.

I've started throwing some extra food under the coop for her, whilst the others are busy eating greens etc

[Chickabee]

Sounds like a lovely set up

 

Try putting in a couple of extra feeders, one next to a perch. This has worked for me in the past. You could also try some anti peck spray. Other than that is the dreaded bumper bit, if it's only one culprit it shouldn't be too hard. I've never fitted one myself, but there are posts on here about them.

 

Good luck

[LHawley88]

Thanks for your help!

I think i will try another feeder, and if she's still getting pecked i will look into the bumpa bits - though the chooks don't half look funny whilst wearing them!

[gavclojak]

Put vasaline her her wattle so the aggressor can't get a grip.

[Beantree]

A big factor here will be run space. How much have they got for 8 of them because I would recommend an absolute minimum of 16 square metres if they are enclosed permanently? Perches in the run can help because it creates a third dimension.

[LHawley88]

I'm not very good at measurements, that's why i have a husband

They have got quite a decent bit of space, plus the coop is on stilts so they have all under there too.

They are in the run permanently at the moment as they live on my allotment - once we get the other half of our allotment, they will have a full half to themselves!

[LHawley88]

Little update - the poor chook being bullied was pounced on the other day!

Another girl had both feet on her back, pinning her down, and was really going for her neck, pulling at her something vicious - i was quite scared!

We broke them up and noticed she had some blood just below her comb on her beak, which we purple sprayed to stop it bleeding.. she is getting a bare back near her tail feathers where the feathers are being pulled.

I have sprayed her with anti-peck spray and the purple in the areas that are exposed, to try and give her a chance.

The bully just goes after her if she sees her, for no other reason!

They are different breeds, could this be a slight contributor?

I have ordered some bumpa bits for the bully, as she is getting rather nasty