Hen pecked

[Gorsty]

Hi folks

One of my small Barnevelder pullets is being picked on by my new POL Warren, Alice. She has a small bald patch on her throat/breast & I've noticed tonight that this is attracting more attention from Alice.

Can I disguise it with anything so that it's no so enticing to peck at?

Many thanks

PS My POL isn't POL anymore - she's layed 3 eggs since Sunday!!!!

[julesapple]

Try purple spray on your chooks sore, or gentian violet. I think Purple Spray is actually gentian.

Jules

[frias]

Gentian violet is supposed to be really good especially if there's any blood to cover up. My old ex-batts have been bullying the new ones a bit but fortunately haven't drawn blood. If it's just feather plucking you can get anti peck spray from most pet shops.

[Gorsty]

Hi ya

Have put some purple spray on the area but Alice still seems very interested.

She had had her beak trimmed when we got her 2 wks ago but my other half is worried that its growing back quickly - do we need to re-trim it? Realise if you cut it back too much she won't be able to eat so am not very keen on this idea.

Have been reading up on feather pecking - can be boredom so will get out tomorrow & get them straw to scrat in. Wonder now if it was a good idea getting a POL to live with my young 9 wk Barnevelders!! You live and learn!!

Any more ideas?

[Suechooks]

She should keep it worn down herself scratting around in the soill
Try a proper anti-peck spray. Gentian violet is an antiseptic and the colour detracts from the red of the blood which will make them peck. The proper antipeck sprays will smell and taste unpleasant Ukadex is reckoned to be revolting!!! There are lots on the market.
Plenty of entertainment should help too - lots of threads on enriching environment.

[RichmondHens]

As Suechooks says, get plenty of "entertainment" for them. Feather pulling is often caused by boredom. Also, don't know what time you let them out but perhaps letting them out earlier will help.

[Polly Fouracre]

If you have the time you could stand by with a water pistol and squirt her every time she pecks the pullet. She'll soon learn!

[Gorsty]

Thank you everyone

The gentian has masked the problem so far. Do plan on getting an anti peck spray though.

I let Alice out of the run = to give the youngsters a break. She spent the time trying to get back in the run and they were following her around! Daren't let them all out yet - they are far too small - don't want them to end up as target practice for my cat & his mate.

We have hung up a whole sweetcorn this afternoon in the run - they ALL totally ignored it!! You can feed sweetcorn from the hand and they love it - throw it on the ground and they love it - hang it up (no matter what height - even touching the ground - they ignore it!!! Are my clucks the thickest in the world???? Ended up handfeeding them right by the side of the hanging sweetcorn - still little interest. Patience is a virtue.......

Will persevere .....

Thanks again

[MaureenHall]

I've used Anti-peck spray for the first time this week. My new girls have been sharing the big coop at night with the older ones with not too many problems - just a bit of half-hearted "get in your own place" sort of thing. Today though, they were really keen to go outside with them all instead of being in their own private run, so I sprayed every one of them with anti-peck and it's worked!! Hardly any squabbling and no fighting at all. Mind you , it wasn't funny tonight rounding up the 5 newbies who'd decided to nest inside a huge pampas grass!! So yes, anti-peck DOES work

[RichmondHens]

I've just introduced two young (12 wk) Welsummer boys to the main flock really just to put them somewhere. It's not worth erecting another pen/making another house just for two boys, and if senior cock accepts them then they will be fine in there. They are already as big as the adults. Senior cock gave them a run around for a bit this morning but partly I think because he thought they were new girls! His attention was soon diverted by the ladies though and he is now just ignoring them.

[Gorsty]

I've used Anti-peck spray for the first time this week. My new girls have been sharing the big coop at night with the older ones with not too many problems - just a bit of half-hearted "get in your own place" sort of thing. Today though, they were really keen to go outside with them all instead of being in their own private run, so I sprayed every one of them with anti-peck and it's worked!! Hardly any squabbling and no fighting at all. Mind you , it wasn't funny tonight rounding up the 5 newbies who'd decided to nest inside a huge pampas grass!! So yes, anti-peck DOES work

Expect there's several on the market - which one have you used?

Bye for now

Oh - nearly forgot to tell you ..... at last they've FOUND the sweetcorn Can I now expect yolks of a better colour from Alice - sorry that's another thread

[Flummery]

Brassicas for deep yolks I find.