Pecking problems....

[Bephlam]

If it's not one thing it's ye'r chickens!!

Anyway...this morning I let all my girls out...all present and correct, bright eyed and bushy tailed. By tea time...my copper Maran is nearly bl00dy bald!!

Henrietta (my fav that recently hatched 4 chicks) has decided to pull the feathers from her fellow adult friends. She has taken a particular shine to Bertha, the copper Maran. She seems to be pulling them out and eating them!

Any ideas what I can do as a temp measure until I can get some anti peck spray tomorrow? Ideally, separate her, but the chicks and her are a bit big for the broody coup now...so that's not really an option.

I'm thinking some sort of spraying of the others to stop them being so appealing....or the likes...anyone have any idea???

[RedThorn]

Isn't a diluted vinegar spray supposed to help? Wonder what's in the feathers that her body is craving?

[MaureenHall]

I was told by a fellow chicken-keeper last year that feather eating is a sign of protein deficiency. How true it is I don't know. If Henrietta was here doing that, I'd put anti-peck spray on all the birds as well as giving her a protein-rich meal (scrambled eggs maybe?) hopefully somebody else might be able to give you better advice and help. fingers crossed love xxx

[Bephlam]

Yeah, I am going to buy some anti peck spray now...but I can't get any right this second...so it's what to do in the meantime. I just put a wee baby grow on Bertha, and although it was absolutely hilarious...it did no good at all. Diluted malt vinegar??

Heeeelp!!

[frias]

I think the diluted vinegar thing is just so they all smell the same when introducing newbies. I can't think of anything you can do until you get the anti peck spray. Really I think Henrietta needs seperating from the other adults but if thats not practical, at least they'll be going to bed soon. Hope you have tomorrow off, so you can go shopping.

[Bephlam]

Unfortunately I don't have tomorrow off...but I'll be home for 2, so I'll nip to the pet shop and buy the cheap anti peck spray until I get the good stuff delivered!

What a worry...just got them looking really prime condition...and the little torag pulls all her feathers out!!

[frias]

I got one from the pet shop that was for parrots but it did the trick. Good luck.

[RichmondHens]

I was told by a fellow chicken-keeper last year that feather eating is a sign of protein deficiency. How true it is I don't know. If Henrietta was here doing that, I'd put anti-peck spray on all the birds as well as giving her a protein-rich meal (scrambled eggs maybe?) hopefully somebody else might be able to give you better advice and help. fingers crossed love xxx

Yes, you are right Maureen. Feather eating is a sign of protein deficiency. Cut out all grain and treats and feed only pellets to ensure she is getting her correct balance of nutrients.

[Hashette]

I think purple colour is supposed to put them off. Gentian if you can get it, but if not, maybe your chemist has something containing iodine that you could use, as long as it wouldn't do her any harm?

[Bephlam]

I'm thinking Henrietta is possibly doing it because she's been eating the little chicks growers pellets instead of her layers....would that do it???

Honestly, Bertha is looking awful. How long until her beautiful copper feathers grow back, do you think??

I'm saaaaad!!

[RichmondHens]

No, eating the chick food will be fine for her and give her a good boost following brooding. It may be she has lost a lot of condition during brooding and is trying to make up. If you can separate her and chicks from the other hens it would be best and give the others a break from her pecking. It will take quite a few weeks for Bertha to grow back her feathers.

[HayleyB]

Honestly they are a nightmare chooks

[Bephlam]

Tell me about it Hayley....why do we put ourselves through it.

Ok, update....Bertha appears to be losing feathers in the neck region fairly rapidly (and naturally now). So, I'm beginning to think that she is going through a neck moult...and Henrietta being the chancer she is, is plucking the loose feathers from Bertha and eating them. Still, not ideal...So, I've sprayed EVERYONE with anti peck solution and put in extra calcium (block) etc. I have topped up all the feeders...with layers and growers....and will ensure they only have this for a few weeks....to get their nutrient balance right.

Thanks for all the advice Richmond (and everyone), very much appreciated. Bertha is looking horrible, but such is life....just a shame they moult just as you get them in to tip top condition!!

I'll keep you all posted.

[frias]

I'm sure you have thought of this Bephlam but has your growers got medication in? Both the chick crumbs and the growers I use have medication in, which is fine for mummy hen to eat as she's not laying but the other girls that are laying mustn't have it. For this reason I still have the 'family' separate from the big girls. Sorry if I'm stating the obvious.
Where did you get a calcium block? Might help some of my older girls that are sadly lacking.
Hope Bertha is soon back to her beautiful self.

[Bephlam]

I didn't know growers has medication in it. I wasn't aware mine did, and I checked it over. My friend, who originally bred my faverolles said it would be ok for the big girls to eat the growers, along with their normal food...as it's near impossible to stop it happening, unless they are separate, which isn't an option for me at the moment.

Henrietta is laying again now anyway...the chicks were 7 weeks today and she's been laying for about a week. Mavis hasn't started yet, as far as I can tell. But, if it was something to do with the growers...wouldn't ALL the big girls have it....?? Instead of JUST Bertha??

I'm thinking it must just be a sudden moult...but, apart from what I've done...I can't think of any other options now. Just wait and see. Bertha doesn't seem to be up nor down with it all though...just a bit baldy!!! he he!