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

[PixieDust]

Lily, my light Sussex, has been feather pecking both Winnie and Pixie. I have tried anti peck spray but although it eased a bit, it didn't stop Lily.

 

Today I dismantled the coop to creosote it and we have temporarily put then in a dog crate in the run. I notice Winnie kept pulling her left leg up so went to investigate and found she had broken a toe nail. I removed the offending nail but noticed a bloody wound on her tail. I went to get the gentian violet and as I was outside to run I saw Lily pecking her several times and Winnie lowering herself to be pecked.

 

Now, they are in the dog crate for a few nights til the coop has aired. I have a small plastic dog crate and someone suggested putting Lily in that at night.

 

I have no other coop/run so wondered if after I have returned the main coop to the run, if I should house Lily in the dog crate in the run for 7 days or so, obviously making sure she has food and water. That way the other 2 can get on with their business and heal and grow feathers.

 

Suggestions welcomed.

 

Also, Winnie has open wound with violet spray on. When should I put more anti peck spray on her?

[Beantree]

Think you are right to separate Lily PixieDust. That way you won't need to use the anti-peck spray, which makes the victim's life more of a mystery because every time they try to preen they get a beak full of the fowl tasting stuff. My preference is fitting a Bumpa bit to Lily upon her return.

[PixieDust]

Ok. I can't impliment the exclusion til Saturday when the coop gets put back in the run. Thanks Beantree.

[PixieDust]

Ok she is now excluded from the others in the dog crate, in the run. She is not happy. Other 2 seemed a little confused. I feel awful doing this but also feel awful for the others being attacked.

 

We do need to somehow cover the dog crate as she started making a terrible racket at 5am this morning. Any ideas?

[Beantree]

To keep birds in transit quiet we put a thin sheet over them. It has to be thin enough to allow some air flow. You may find that it isn't light she is responding to but the dawn chorus of wild birds, in which case a sheet won't work and you would have to move her at night inside, either into the house, a garage or even a shed. We do this a lot with broodies to disorientate them. Doesn't work with all and is slower than a broody cage in the run but seems a lot kinder so worth a try.

[PixieDust]

She seems to have settled it now. I don't know how long I should keep her separated for. I have started to worm them today so wondered if I should just leave the as is for the next 7 days? I did see Pixie have a tug on Lily's feathers through the bars yesterday.

 

The flock dynamic is all over the place. Winnie seems the most lost with it all. Regardless of the fact the Lily pecked her badly, they hung out together and shared food. Winnie seems a little reluctant to share the stuff Pixie is eating. I also found Winnie sleeping in the nest box last night, previously Pixie had done that.

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Beantree]

Think you need to be patient Pixiedust. We had a Marans go nuts earlier in the week and started attacking some bantams through the run wire. We started worming early as a precaution. She and one other definitely had bad worms and after the first dose of Flubenvet she calmed right down, so perhaps that has some bearing on the dynamics?