Aggressive Peahen

[ejs2221]

I have a peahen that started by pecking the crown off my male. (Male is 4. Aggressive hen is 3, submissive hen is 2). Lately she’s been pecking the crown off the submissive hen and now today there is a huge open wound on the back of the submissive hens head! I was given a couple “anti pick” devices from our breeder. I’m leery on using one but I don’t want her to kill the other hen. Any suggestions?

 

[sourland]

@casportpony can you help here ?

 

[casportpony]

The only way I have been able to treat this is to remove the aggressive or remove the injured one. One healed, I reunite them.

Maybe @KsKingBee will have some suggestions.

 

[ejs2221]

The only way I have been able to treat this is to remove the aggressive or remove the injured one. One healed, I reunite them.

Maybe @KsKingBee will have some suggestions.

And once healed they go back to being friends?

 

[casportpony]

And once healed they go back to being friends?

It depends on the bird.

 

[KsKingBee]

Put the peeper on the hen right away. Also, put hiding places in a pen when you see aggression like this. Usually, it is the cock that gets aggressive towards the hens normally caused by not being able to fight with another cock within sight. When that happens we move the cock to the bullpen with the other bachelors for a couple of days then put him back with his harem. Sight barriers are important and should be installed around all breeding pens.

 

[ejs2221]

Put the peeper on the hen right away. Also, put hiding places in a pen when you see aggression like this. Usually, it is the cock that gets aggressive towards the hens normally caused by not being able to fight with another cock within sight. When that happens we move the cock to the bullpen with the other bachelors for a couple of days then put him back with his harem. Sight barriers are important and should be installed around all breeding pens.

Our breeder expected us to use the anti pick on the cock but he seems chill. I’ve witnessed the aggressive hen picking on the submissive hen so I guess I just assumed it was her who attacked. Plus the cock is missing his crown and also has some ruffled/missing feathers on his neck. The submissive hen only has 2 or 3 crown feathers while the aggressive hen is perfectly feathered with a full crown. I did think maybe the male hurt the hen during breeding but I honestly just think it’s that cranky hen. We did put the pick on the cranky brat and while the submissive hen still seems a bit frantic, there’s no new injuries and the cock is already showing signs of new crown feathers (so fast!). I will install some diversion boards so she has some places to stay out of sight. Thank you for your suggestions.