Aggressively Picking

[Bree99]

I recently added a new Polish hen to my flock of 5 bantam Cochins, I know you’re not supposed to add just one but I have added just one to them before and they got along just fine, and this morning I woke up to go check on them and they had my Polish in the corner and had plucked most of her head feathers out. One part is so deep it’s almost to the skull. It’s really bloody and I’m not sure how to get it to heal and get it to stop. I have her separated and put some antibacterial ointment on it.

 

[Chickenaddition]

hello Bree99, Adding a chicken is something that should be done slowly under even the best of circumstances. Unfortunately Polish chickens, what makes them so desirable, also makes them easy to be picked on. Their top hat feathers, block their view, so they can't see another chicken as easily, they get spooked easily, over react to issues due to surprise, and also break into other chickens bubbles which then gets them picked on. Typically even when they are introduced all as chicks, I have seen Polish usually at the bottom of the pecking order. That doesn't mean it's impossible, but you really can't just drop a Polish in by itself and hope for the best. You will have to separate and then do the look but can't touch for a while and then ease the Polish in slowly after that. I am sorry but that's just the truth of the situation.

 

[Bree99]

I’m going to keep her separated until her feathers grow back in before I try any kind of reintroducing. They have been picking at the back of one of the other hens and I have her in a pen next to the polish now. I will try to reintroduce them through pens when their feathers have grown back in and it is not so cold out.