Do new feathers bleed or....

[tlck9]

me again....

one of my ex batts, is growing her feathers back on her neck/crop area, she has been very quiet since coming to me and spent the 1st couple of days in the ark house.

She has quite a large comb, and it looks like she has had some pecking of it over the time in battery cages

After losing Omlet (who seemed to be picking on them and starting trouble) the run has been quieter, so I have let them integrate for the last couple of days.

Things have seemed to go okay, with the occasional peck from Henna as they go past....

Anyway, couldnt find one little un today and I searched the run, only to find her hiding behind the coop, all hunched up and sorry for herself.

I managed to get her out and noticed where her feathers are coming through she has some blood, no injury as I could se, other than one of the feather quills looks like it had broken off and has some blood on it

Now seeing as she seemed to be hiding I can only assume she has been picked on, which from the experience of Omlet being picked on while she was poorly, then I'm worried I have a similar situation of a poorly one being picked on

[Suechooks]

If you can get some gentian violet (purple spray) you could put that on. There will always be one who gets picked on - I had one recently who they all did this to so I made sure she had somewhere to go and put food and water there so she could eat and drink. She's now learned her place and just keeps away from the hierarchy!
The larger feathers do sometimes bleed as the push through the skin.
I usually spray my new girls with anti-peck spray as well - it discourages the bullies from the beginning.
Make sure your little one has a full crop before bed time and she's warm enough. I've occasionally fed new ex-batts by hand with warm mash and corn at bedtime just to get them through the night. She could be suffering from stress - it's a huge culture shock for them and sadly not all survive the change.
Hope she's ok.

[tlck9]

Please can anyone recommend an anti peck spray I've found ones from £3-4 upto £15, johnsons for £3

[Two_Sheds]

Yes, new feathers are full of blood: they're called blood feathers. Once the feather is fully grown, the blood supply is shut off and they will no longer bleed.

[Suechooks]

Please can anyone recommend an anti peck spray I've found ones from £3-4 upto £15, johnsons for £3

I use the Net-tex one just called antipeck spray but a lot of people use Ukadex - I believe it really stinks - not smelled it myself but the one I use smells nice but tastes awful - got some on my face without realising and licked my lips . I think I'd get anything in the short term (I think I used the Johnsons one )and get a proper job to have in your box. The other stuff thats really effective is Stockholm tar (horsey places sell it). Very messy and makes feathers black but no one pecked one of mine after applying it!

[Bramble-Poultry]

if she has lots of pin fethers coming through and you are worried that she is going to get picked on and pecked, why not put a hen jumper on her?

it will keep her warmer, stop the pecking and if the other hens do peck at her (which they have to do to get a taste of the anti peck spray) then all they get is a mouthful of jumper?

if speed is of the essence, make one up out of an old / cheap fleece blanket rather than knit one!

If you need a pattern, i am sure there is one here on the grapevine somwhere or else i will get jen to post one up when she wakes after her "night out".......... probably about the crack of noon.

[tlck9]

She isnt taking much food or water at all, so i have tried to feed her myself. I will check out a pattern as I'm sure I found one

She was looking uite poorly today, I have added extra bedding and a horse blanket over the coop to try and keep them warm

[Suechooks]

There's a pattern on the Little Hen Rescue web site.
Poor little mite I hope she's ok.

[Eco-Chic]

Tick, this is the link for the ex-batts fleece Help us make hen jumpers!

Hope she perks up quickly

[tlck9]

I just wondered, on peoples opinion...

when I was feeding her, she seemed to be stretching out her tongue, sort of trying to lick her lips

I could hear her breathing? which I've taken not to be a good sign

I'm wondering if there is no improvement, to bring her home and perhaps have her in the warm overnight and feed her on her own. But will I have issues putting her back in?

[tlck9]

well, she was looking a bit better today, but her crop isnt getting bigger...

boy from one extreme to another, I dont arf pick um!!

She's had a vitamin injection today along with a Vitamin boost for lethargic chickens. I've bought some farmgate layers mash and she has taken some from me when I fed her - she take less of the ex batts crumbs.

(farmgate - I've always bought A&P because its guarenteed Gm free, and as close to organic without going organic (no point if the land they are on isnt)

What's the quality like for ex batts???

Fingers crossed for tomorrow that she has perked up {fingers and toes crossed)

[Bramble-Poultry]

we keep nearly all of our birds on farmgate, from chicks through to rehad ex-batts right around to breeding groups of rare breed chickens and turkeys.

farmgate i sfine for ex-batts. Just give the ex-batts a handful of corn or similar in the evening as a bonus to help them gain weight and also you might want to try toast with marmite on it as the B vitamins really help condition them

[tlck9]

Well no real improvement as yet with Curly....

But all the girls love the farmgate stuff, I've put out the normal A&P and also a couple of cups of farmgate and all the farmgate had disappeared!

So looks like they have spoken, cheaper farmgate it is!