Next chicken problem!

[GemmaEllen]

So it seems that, when we solve one problem, another one turns up with our girls! If you've read the posts I've written previously ('Rescue chickens not eating Mash?' and 'Dog attack - advice needed') then you'll be familiar with my 2 new girls, Maggie and Gracie.

Gracie is recovering really well from her dog bite - but now 2 new problems have turned up!

1. This is the serious one. Gracie is growing back her bald spot from the dog bite really quickly, and its not that that's the problem. now, it seems, Maggie is pulling Gracie's neck feathers out (Sorry - I don't know the terminology yet!) Gracie always was a bit thin on feathers around her neck since we got her, but the last few days she's gone nearly bald around her neck, with a few broken pins remaining, and a little patchy on the top of her head. At first, we thought she was doing it herself (since it would account for the state she was in when we got her too) but I spotted Maggie pecking at her neck earlier.
I cant tell whether this is because Gracie has pulled them out and Maggie is attracted to the bald spot (I read this happens sometimes) or whether its Mag's who has plucked them in the first place -either way, I'd like to know what can be done to stop it? Poor Gracie has been through enough!

Maggie has put on a tonne of weight since we've had her (good, healthy weight. her feathers are glossy and she's really starting to get some colour in her comb) but Gracie is looking more and more bedraggled and pale, what with her regrowing so many feathers, and losing more each day. (it does seem as if they might be going through an early molt as well though, since the other 4 girls are dropping feathers everywhere too!) Should I keep Gracie separated again? She wont like it, since she's much more active now, but I'm concerned if Maggie nips her any more she'll draw blood and then it'll get much worse. The other alternative is to let Maggie out to join the other 4 (who free range) I know its not ideal to try and integrate just one bird at a time, since I know they'll pick on her, but I think Mags might actually be bigger than 2 out of the 4, and more likely to hold her own. the only problem would arise when it would be time to integrate Gracie - unless she gets much stronger/bigger, she'll be picked on to no end! Any suggestions for this would be welcomed!!

2. This evening, we went to shut the coop up, and found Maggie roosting ON TOP of the coop, and Gracie hadn't even gone inside - settling into the grass outside of the coop! (luckily they are both still in an enclosed run!) is this because its too hot in the coop? (the temperatures are very high at the moment) and they just don't want to go inside, or is there an underlying problem that we#re missing? the other 4 put themselves away like clockwork each night, so I have no idea whats going on here!!

it never ends! haha!

 

[dinosaw]

Always something to worry about with chickens Gemma. The new feathers are full of blood and very tasty to a chicken, once they get a taste for it they tend to continue pulling them out as they grow. You can get anti pecking sprays which are normally variations on gentian violet which as well as hiding wounds make the area taste horrible but they are a bit hit and miss. I definitely wouldn't put either Maggie or Gracie in with the other 4 alone in any case. If it was me I think I would separate Gracie but keep her in full view of Maggie, of course she won't like it but you will find that if she is now moulting the feathers will grow back relatively quickly and then they can go back in together. With regards to them not going into the house it could be the heat but it is also something associated with red mite in the coop too so you need to check that out. Best way is to get a bit of kitchen roll and run it along the bottom of the perches, especially first thing in the morning, if there is blood on the kitchen roll you have got mite, but have a good look in the coop too checking the crevices, they appear grey when they haven't fed and red after they have. Hopefully it is just heat as that is another problem you don't need.

 

[GemmaEllen]

Hi Dinosaw, thanks for responding! We've just purchased an anti-pecking spray so I'll give that a go when I get home. It said it was for 'pecking and self harming' but I assume it would work for others plucking her too?

I'll check the coop for red mite, but we think it might be the new toy I added to the coop yesterday. I purchased one of those coconut shells filled with seed, (spotted it at the same time I purchased the anti-pecking spray) and hung it up in the coop to give them something to do, since its raining a lot at the moment. I wondered if it confused them? I've taken it out and hung it to the tree outside the coop so will see what happens tonight.

 

[Marigold]

Best to just leave the coop as a place for sleeping and laying eggs, GemmaEllen. Its good to provide a covered area where they can shelter from wind as well as rain (winter wind bothers them as much or more than rain, and a dry area will be a good place for the feeder.) Can they get under your coop to shelter and dig? This isn't suitable for feed, but they do like it as a place to hang out if your coop is on legs.
Do all you can to prevent Maggie from any more pecking as this is a troublesome vice which, once a hen has learned to do it, is very difficult or impossible to cure. I agree about separating Gracie behind a mesh barrier until she has feathered up properly, else she never will have the chance to do so. If she's on her own you won't need the anti peck spray as there won't be a problem for a while anyway. This warm weather you could give her a temporary coop, ie a waterproof box, unless you are able to move her in with Maggie after dark and out again first thing.

 

[GemmaEllen]

HI Marigold!

our coop is only little - and looks like this: http://howtobuildachickencoopmanual.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/triangular-shaped-coops1.jpg, except that the top section is only half the length (there is a roost across the remaining length in ours)

there is room underneath the top bit (which DH has extended to form 2 'dormer-window' type boxes either side) for them to hang out underneath, but they dont often, unless it rains hard. They have a large tree in their enclosed area, which is good for shade from weather - either good or bad. and they dig in the dirt around the tree.

the coconut was attached to a hook on the underside of the roost bar. Since neither girls use the ramp, but jump instead, I figured this might just have got in their way? I've hung things on it before (Cabbage/lettuce usually!) but took them down overnight so as not to encourage pests. we were watching a film last night and didn't come out to close them up until after dark, and I'd forgotten to move it before hand.

as for the pecking, I guess I'll have to put her back in the hospital coop! its the complete version of the link above (with the full size upper floor) so she'll get the grass to peck at until she re-grows fully. I guess it'll give us an opportunity to give her more protein without Mags eating it all too. just a shame since I know she'll be so bored again!

(but better bored and healthy than hurt, I guess!)

 

[BabyBantam]

My advice would be to keep food of any sort out of the house. It will stop any potential issues with rodents or birds breaking into the house to get to it and keep your girls safe. I would imagine anything strange will stop the girls going indoors too.
You could try using a garden thermometer to check heat in the house. Will help monitor and also be a guide in the winter when it gets cold.
When my girls peck each other, I find the anti peck spray doesnt work too well, but the purple coloured antiseptic spray does wonders as it seems to make the bald patch invisible, as well as giving the chook a great punk hairdo
Could you try separating the girls when not about, or at night but letting them free range together to give them something to do. You can monitor the pecking then and they may be so pleased to see each other they forget to do it?

 

[Icemaiden]

The coop in your link looks to be very short of ventilation. Perhaps this is the issue?
The hens need plenty of high level ventilation (i.e. above head height, so they're not sleeping in a draught).

 

[GemmaEllen]

ours has been modified slightly to allow for a bit of ventillation under the eaves. DH re-built the roof to accommodate it. it also has an additional drop down on the other side (like the hatch you see in the pic - that drops down to show the nesting box) to allow extra ventillation for those hot, still nights.

we've split the girls up now, to allow Gracie time to grow her feathers back. we moved Maggie in the end, and built an extra run alongside their shared one, so that they can still 'talk' to each other. its been useful since we can add the additional protein to Gracies feed without worrying that Mags will scoff it! she's looking better already, so I think it will be fine.

Only problem will be if Mags starts pecking her once we put them back together, but we'll cross that bridge if and when we come to it I think!

no problems with the coop since that weird night. I checked for red mite and found nothing, but cleared it and cleaned it out just to be sure. lots of earwigs!

fingers crossed that they settle down for a bit now. Although I'm waiting for the next thing to go wrong! haha!