HELP! - Chicken Injury caused by Pecking

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HELP! - Chicken Injury caused by Pecking
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chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35934
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Sun Jan 23, 11 4:39 pm Post subject:
Yup, here you go. Gentian violet and hairspray! Clicky ETA: It's also worth wondering if they are bored. Can you hang up cabbages etc for them to peck at so they don't peck each other?

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Sun Jan 23, 11 4:47 pm Post subject:
I have always used Stockholm tar. It seals the wound from infection & the other birds don't like to get it on their beaks.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45472
Location: yes

Posted: Sun Jan 23, 11 5:23 pm Post subject:
a mix of 200 ml almond oil ,10 ml tea tree,10 ml frankincense,10 ml lavender oils seems to work on most lesions ,most species

wammy77

Joined: 16 Jan 2011
Posts: 11

Posted: Sun Jan 23, 11 5:55 pm Post subject:
Thanks so much for your replies They're tucked up for the night now so all's quiet - I'll run out first thing tomorrow and grab so purple spray from the local farm store!! Will order some tar online for future use I think too

chicken feed

Joined: 27 Aug 2009
Posts: 2677

Posted: Sun Jan 23, 11 6:50 pm Post subject:
i would second stockholm tar it works well. if this problem continues i would use bumpers / spectacles for anti pecking very effective they are too you can buy these on ebay or feed merchants.

kirstyfern

Joined: 03 Jan 2010
Posts: 1574
Location: Great Dunmow, Essex

Posted: Sun Jan 23, 11 7:03 pm Post subject:

Tavascarow wrote:

I have always used Stockholm tar.
It seals the wound from infection & the other birds don't like to get it on their beaks.

Ditto - although some people say their hens don't like it and peck more, I've never found this.

wammy77

Joined: 16 Jan 2011
Posts: 11

Posted: Mon Jan 24, 11 2:52 pm Post subject:

Thanks for advice Perchy

I went out this morning and got the purple spray, put it on both Lily and Mabel...... so far it's not stopped the pecking from the other 2 birds (although one of them far more than the other!!)

Poor Lily is sat right outside the french doors and every time one of the bullies comes her way she makes a mad dash for it

Poor little thing!!!

I wish I knew what was causing this behaviour - they roam free in the garden ,so can't be a space issue, they have plenty of food and water stations, I have cabbages hung up for them to peck at.....

I don't have a big enough run to seperate them so hubby and I are having to watch them constantly to check they're all right... and when we do need to come inside we're keeping them appart by putting the 2 bullies in the run that's attached to the house and the 2 others in my daughters playhouse!!!

Another trip to the farm store to get some tar i think

If that doesn't work I don't know what I'll do!!!

Thanks in advance x

Henerz

Joined: 21 Jan 2011
Posts: 5
Location: Norfolk

Posted: Mon Jan 24, 11 3:52 pm Post subject: Pecking hen
Keep her out of range of the others for the time being,vaseline on the wound after cleaning that will give it a semi breathable dressing.Hens go crazy with the sight of blood. Henerz.

wammy77

Joined: 16 Jan 2011
Posts: 11

Posted: Tue Jan 25, 11 9:49 am Post subject:

Todays update: well the bully is pecking Lily far less than yesterday, but she's still not stopped even though I've used purple spray and tar. I was watching them this morning and it seems like the chicken is trying to eat the feathers.

The tar has stopped her wound being pecked at more, so that's a good thing, however they're just pecking her in other areas.... I've done everything I can to make sure they're not bored, not hungry, no cramped in a restricited space

This morning Lily is very quiet and keeps going off to the corner to sit on her own. She only moves around when hubby, myself or my daughter go out there with her... then she's happy to eat, drink and run around.

I'm so worried about her

Vanessa

Joined: 08 May 2006
Posts: 8324

Posted: Tue Jan 25, 11 12:07 pm Post subject:
Remove the bully. Otherwise you will lose Lily for sure.

girlracer265

Joined: 30 Jan 2010
Posts: 292
Location: brent knoll, somerset

Posted: Tue Jan 25, 11 1:45 pm Post subject:
I agree with vanessa, remove the bully so the other 2 bond better then when the bully is put back, the pecking order will probably change

Castle Farm

Joined: 17 Sep 2008
Posts: 457
Location: Powys/Hereford Border.Near Hay-on-Wye

Posted: Tue Jan 25, 11 2:54 pm Post subject:
Remove Lilly or you will have problems re-introducing the 'bully' Once a bird has picked up the feather pecking habit it's hard to break them. Once blood is drawn they are very attracted to it and will kill her. Do not even think about leaving her in the same run.

wammy77

Joined: 16 Jan 2011
Posts: 11

Posted: Wed Jan 26, 11 7:54 pm Post subject:

Hello

Just wanted to thank you all for your advice - we separated the 2 bullies and the 2 other chickens all day yesterday in the run, which I hate doing as it's only the minimum space (shop bought coop/run). Today we put them in the garden all together to see how they got on - and there was no pecking!!!!!! We've been keeping watch all day (poor hubby was on 'watch' most of the day as I had to go out!) just to make sure, but it's definitely stopped.

Lily seems much more happy today too and has been running around all day with the others..... hanging cabages seems to keep them amused

We still have the purple spray on Lily to make sure she heals well..... fingers crossed they'll all get on nicely now!!!

I'll be keeping a VERY close eye on them for the next few days.....

Rita

Joined: 30 Jun 2010
Posts: 50
Location: Gloucester

Posted: Wed Feb 02, 11 9:15 pm Post subject:

hi i have been reading what has been happening with lily, i had the same problem with my light silver sussex, the only way i stopped it was to put the bully in my dogs cage with water and food and this was placed in the run with all the other chickens and i let her out when it was time for them to go too bed, in the morning i watched ready to put her back in the cage if she picked on the light sussex but she didn't and they have lived together ever since, she is bottom of the chicken pecking order my little sussex, but someone is always going to be that, they have been together now for 4 years, i hope this will help as i know this has worked for other people.

northmoor

Joined: 08 Aug 2008
Posts: 380

Posted: Fri Feb 04, 11 9:24 pm Post subject:

wammy77 wrote:

We still have the purple spray on Lily to make sure she heals well..... fingers crossed they'll all get on nicely now!!!

I'll be keeping a VERY close eye on them for the next few days.....

teramycine (sp?) is better than purple spay, i find the birds are attracted to purple nearly as much as blood, teramycine is a greenish blue and less attractive

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