All of a sudden, things aren't going so well. Advice needed.

[annmarie]

Okay, I got my 3 chickens this spring as chicks and everything couldn't have gone better, until now it seems.

Yesteday I came home to 2 girls with dried blood on their combs, and the RIR was doing everything she could to stay away from the Golden Comet. (They were the 2 with the blood on their combs and wattles.) Pecking order never seemed to be an issue with them and they are now 7 months old, all laying. I thought pecking order was established much younger? Or is something else going on? I'm so worried as now I'm at work and fearing that they might be attacking one another while I sit here. The RIR does not appear to be fighting back at all, so I'm not sure why the other one is still going after her. Here's some more problems that I should also point out. The attacker ("terrorist" as my DH is calling her!) also seems to have a pale comb at the moment. She's not showing any signs of illness, is laying well, eating well, etc., but her comb is quite pale. Someone else posted the same pale comb problem and nutritional supplements/wormer was suggested. Also, all of my hens are also dealing with a bit of frostbite, which is driving me crazy because I've been coating their combs/wattles with bag balm almost daily, and I really think their little house in nice and cozy at night so I don't know what else to do about that. One of my books suggests the idea that the frostbite could lead to picking, but doesn't really get into the topic at all. All right, I've laid it all out. I feel like such a mess at the moment.

If anyone has any thoughts on any or all of these problems, I'm all ears.

 

[dlhunicorn]

separate the one with the pale comb (this is also the one that is pecking?) and give a good complete supplement like AviaCharge 2000 (give this to the other birds as well>you can purchas online at McMurrays or Strombergs) and offer free choice yogurt ...if possible put her in a warmer and temp stable environment until she is back to her old self.... you can monitor her more easily this way if a disease process or such is going on. When was the last time you wormed this bird and with what? Do you have a light on them all the time?

 

[annmarie]

Thank you! Yes, the one with the pale comb is also the one that is pecking. I've never wormed my chickens

I'm a stupid newbie (who is right now wondering if she got into more than she can handle), but I'll get right on this! Can you tell me if there's a certain type of wormer to look for? Will the local feed store most likely have some or do I need to order that as well? I wasn't sure it was necessary with such a tiny flock and didn't realize that worms can be an issue in the cold winters, but she certainly could have picked something up before the ground was covered in 2 feet of snow. I will also order the AviaCharge 2000, seperate her, and give her yogurt. No, I don't have a light on them at all.

 

[seminolewind]

I sat in the run with my first 4 chicks every day, with three 8 week old Jersey Giants and a mature Buff Orpington. The buff reminded them every day of the pecking order, it was like her first rule of the morning. The pecking order was more flexible on some days, and held by someone else now and then, and also changed depending on what activity was going on. It was fun watching them.
Did you check your chickens for mites or lice?

 

[sammi]

when you are new to chickens, and things start going wrong..it can be overwhelming.
even to long time poultry keepers..
seems like when it rains, it pours.

the pecking order is something that is always at odds..
she might just be showing she's still the boss..just to remind everybody..LOL
and she's picking on the lowest in the order, and the least likely to fight back.

could be that she isn't feeling well..so do try the suggestions of the other posters.
here is a link to instructions for Ivomec, which both worms and de-bugs them.

http://shilala.homestead.com/ivomec.html

you could also use Wazine 17 (active ingrediant: piperazine)
or Piperazine 17 (for swine, turkeys and chickens)
piperazine only treats adult round worms which are common in chickens.
the dosage is usually on the label. (1 ounce per 1 gallon of water for 1 and 1/2 days..no other water should be available to them.
repeat in 10-14 days.
the Ivomec treats a borader range of worms.
if you opt for the piperazine..treat them for mites..
Sevin (5%) or a poultry dust with permathrin.

are you sure she is laying?

please describe the droppings of the pale comb hen.
and also the RIR that is being picked on. (color and consistency)
it's possible she has something going on and the hen senses it..
very important about the droppings.

also..please say what ALL you feed.

they need extra protein in the cold weather, and a bit of scratch corn before roost time.

once you understand things and get a handle on it..you won't be so overwhelmed.