What else should I do?

[Graham K]

My new girls were settling in fine until this afternoon, the pic's show what the "blue" one has done to the "yellow" since lunch time.

I have ordered the clip things that go in between the beak and fit in the nostrils, anti peck spray will be bought in the morning along with a cabbage (it's supposed to stop them getting bored) the run will be extended over the next couple of days with an old greenhouse frame and I'll try find some time to make up a couple of pecking toys.

Any advice or suggestions as to what else to do will be greatly appreciated.

Graham.

[Nicos]

Ouch!...that looks painful! Poor lass.

I've never had any bullying so I'm not much help I'm afraid- but I'd be tempted to purple spray the injury to help it heal but also hide the colour of the wound and the smell of blood .

Can you remove Blue for now until the nose things arrive? not sure if those are the best things?????

How many chooks do you have???

[Scarlet]

How long have you had them GK? If you haven't had them long I would take them back. Pecking toys do help but a habit like that is very hard to break.

[RichmondHens]

I would be inclined to agree with Scarlet, but if you want to keep these particular girls then either take the bully out, or the bullied one and put in a separate run but within sight and sound of the others. Cover the injury with purple spray to disguise any blood and give them as much room as you can. Chickens normally peck each other when they have nothing else to do. Overcrowding at the breeders probably started the habit and if they are to be kept in a small space you will struggle to break it. I'm not a fan of beak bits, they really shouldn't be necessary. What breed are the hens by the way? If you do decide to change the hens go for something more placid like a Sussex or maybe if you have a small run/garden, pekin bantams would be a better choice.

[petal]

how much space have they currently got? You might be better off with little bantams if space is limited. Never, in all my time keeping chickens has this ever happened-! there is no where for the bird to escape to!
you will need to let them out in your garden and supervise them until an extension is hurriedly built.

[MrBloom]

looks nasty that my friend a bit like what my eye look like after a night out round my locals lol. In all seriousness you should get them sorted because you can't have that happening

[lettucegrow!]

When I introduced my last two I had one hen who was a real bully and in the end I had to reverse introduce and remove her and gradually introduce her back in. It did work and they are fine now but they do need space and letting them wander to find their own feet and pecking order is good too.

[petal]

i am currently having a nightmare introducing a spring hatched salmon faverolle pullet to the established group. Cockerels normally stop hens bickering and a single pullet introduction has always gone smoothly. However, one nasty hen attacks her the moment she sees her- so i will have to remove miss nasty whilst the new one settles in.

[Graham K]

I made a few changes!

A bit bigger than they had before with some logs and rocks to climb on, a hanging "thing" to peck and bash when they feel like it and a hanger for a cabbage that takes them about a week to eat. Yet another give away from freecycle.

The pecking seems to have stopped, mostly because Mother Hens Poultry swapped the "pecker" and the "pecked" for some nice shiny new ones (Mother Hen's Poultry, Breeder of chickens & ducks in Berkshire. Housing, Feed & Equipment. -) and all is peaceful, eggs are still a bit hit and miss but they are still young and the weather is not so good so I'll wait and see.

[Scarlet]

Brilliant result - love your run.

[petal]

well done- that is really very nice indeed!