Feather Pecking

kitty

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Hi again, One of my hens that is currently in moult has started to be feather pecked by another and has now actually drawn blood. At the moment I have no means of segregation, so can anyone advise me what other options are available?
Thanks in advance
 
If blood has been drawn, it's really important to segregate her somehow, because the other hen or hens will carry on pecking at it and make it worse. In the worst case, they may even kill her. Also, it may establish the other hens in a feather-pecking habit which otherwise they wouldn't have considered doing. Can you get some sort of mesh or chicken netting and fix this across the run and put her one side, with food and water, so she can see the others and they don't forget about her? this is important as if she is kept out of sight there will be reintegration problems and probably more pecking when she has recovered and can be returned. All of us have to separate a hen sometimes, for various reasons, so it's good to make up a 'kit' which you can use when necessary. Alternatively, if you think just one hen is doing the pecking, remove the bully instead so the bullied hen doesn't have to have the stress of separation. It's possible that removing a higher=ranking bird will result in her losing a notch ot twp of her place in the hierarchy when she is returned. This demotion may help solve the problem, besides giving the bullied hen a bit of respite to heal up whilst the bully is not there. But if you have several hens and they are all having a go, then the only thing to do is to remove the victim.

The only other thing you can do is to try feather-pecking spray on the afflicted hen, though this is horrid stuff and doesn't always work. Also, the hen who has been sprayed can't preen her feathers properly and so she suffers for the sins of the other aggressors. If you can separate her instead this would be a much better way to deal with it.
 
If you can't segregate her (and she needs to be if blood is drawn) try Net Tex anti peck spray. Spray it a round the feathers that are being pulled. Apply every couple of days. It's also good for healing wounds. Though not ideal, your only other choice is to apply beak bits (see chrismahon's post on bumpa bits).
 
Thanks both, I could segregate them during the day, by sectioning off some of the run, but as I have only 1 coup, I would have to put them all in together during the night so do you think that the pecking would continue during the night? It would appear that the pecking is being done by just 1 of the hens!
 
I think it would be fine to put them in the coop together at night as once they've settled down they won't peck. just be out early in the morning to remove the bully from the flock if you can. It's important to support the victim socially by making no changes to her membership of the flock if only one hen is causing the trouble - and it just seems fairer, too, doesn't it?
 
We've just yesterday had exactly this problem Kitty. One of the TNN's in late moult (Sophia) was being pecked and was hiding in the nest box. Didn't spray her but just sat for 20 minutes and watched. Soon became obvious that her sister Florence was the problem. She was upsetting Elisa as well and even taking feathers from Claude the cockerels's bottom. So Florence has been put in the spare run, still in sight of the others. All seem happy now. She will be re-introduced when the moulting is complete. With 16 chicks soon looking for homes we can't devote a 4 large fowl coop and run just to her, so if she starts again it's a Bumpa bit.

Our Wyandottes have started picking on Jemima and we've had to spray her. Florence is in the spare coop anyway and after observation there are about 5 having a go. We won't penalise the victim by separating her unless absolutely necessary. 5 beak bits is getting silly so the best option was to spray her. We went mild with Johnsons anti-peck. It actually worked, although rarely has in the past. We haven't got Nettex here because both the bottles leaked. I have sent emails in complaint but never had a response -the chemicals are attacking the plastic seal in the spray mechanism. Keeping a close eye on her. There is a perch in the run and she often uses it to escape from attack.
 
As it was virtually impossible to segregate due to lack of feeders, water containers and additional dry cover areas etc., I resorted to buying some anti peck tar type stuff from Wilkinsons store, the name of which escapes me now (can't find the container at the moment due to shed re-organisation) but I have to say it did the trick. It took a couple of applications and was really sticky and smelly and after a few days her feathers started to come through fine and now she looks almost like new and though I have only used it once, will definitely be using it again should the need arise. As soon as I find the container I will post the name on here but if anybody needs it in the meantime, it was in the pet section and cost around £7.
 
Yes thats the stuff, only problem I can see with it is that it does stay on the chooks for a long time and it is a bit smelly, but it did the trick for me!!
 
My Bluebell hen has been feather pecked to the point that they have drawn blood but the wound has scabed over and is dry, i have removed from the others becuse she was looking stressed i have put her in a large bird carrier the other birds can still see her she will stay in the cage tillthe wound has healed and she has put the weight back on Net Tex Septi-Clense Powder 120g- and Net Tex Septic-Clense Spray with violet 200ml and some Net Tex Anti Peck Spray i hope this should work Checked her tonight at nine she was sitting down head up high and alert so being away from the rest is doing her good i will spray the rest and will remove the one into a pet carrier for while so she comes down the ranking order, on a brighter not went to the Fed Show in Stafford it was very good i was particulary intrested in the orpingtons they did look good 8-)
 
Is it possible to enclose a section of the run for her so she can get some exercise and see the others during the day? She will get cramped and bored if kept in a cage for an extended time whilst her feathers grow back.
 
Not a good idea to spray everything in sight Paulh. As chuck says "what do you mean by 'I will spray the rest'". Spraying should be done with regard to the victim -it can't preen without a beak full of foul tasting chemical. Our approach is to identify the aggressors and treat them appropriately.
 

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