Any Ideas For My Picked On Polish ? They want his "fro" !

[Ghostchick]

I have a 5 week old WC Black Polish named Elvis. I think its a roo. It was my free exotic, and we love him. He is very sweet and mellow. But he seems to be getting picked on. Until recently, he was in with my other chick, all 18 of them. Last week I noticed they had pulled his finally developing top hat. I cleaned it off and sprayed Blu-Kote. BTW, this stains, he shook and I had blue freckles! So we had all the chicks out in a pen outside together this past weekend, and I had to have my kids bodyguard him. He still was getting "pruned" by a few others who had ripped the feathers out. Not really bloody, he now looks like a monk! At night I bring them inside, hubby has to make the coop, and he looks so sad to not be with his friends, but in a cage by himself. My question is, what is the best thing to do to keep them together? I do believe I have another roo, in my only pullet order..grrr... Its not the only "picker". Should I just trim it all and put on pine tar? Anyone do this? I just wish they'd all get along! BTW, Elvis has been the slowest to get all his feathers. Help, I am so new at this!!! First opic was a week ago. Second is today. I have been giving vitamins and he looks great now. Or is it a she?

 

[insiderart]

God love him he looks so sad.

 

[Ghostchick]

His purple hair matches your profile pic!

We handle him alot so he is friendly. I feel so horrible for him all by himself!

 

[Lollipop]

I would go to a pet store and get some anti peck spray. I use some that supposedly tastes like sour apples. Got it in the bird section at the pet store. Used it for years and still have a lot left from the original bottle. Colorles and easy to aply. They don`t like the tast of it and I use it whenever there is no blood showing. Good luck.......Pop

 

[Ghostchick]

Thanks, I will look for that! I want to keep his top hat and not cut it. I know boredom can be the issue with all of them inside still too.

 

[Ghostchick]

My husband went to a pet store and they told him to get "Fooey" spray. I put it on his top hat, and they still are nibbling on it! I put it on with my fingers, didn't want to get it in his eyes. I washed my hands, then made a BBQ. I licked my fingers and it was pretty gross, but not horrible. I will have to go look for something else!

 

[allmypeeps]

Unfortunately Polish are very docile and since they look 'different' so prone to being the low man on the totem pole so to speak as far as pecking order.

alot of times if you can create a negative association with pecking at the 'fro' it may help, but you will have to dedicate some time.

I had 2 hens and when I introduced the third she was creating such a ruckus with my other two chasing, pecking, so I decided I would put an end to it and I stayed in their pen and anytime she'd try to dominate the others I would squirt her with a water bottle (like the kind a hairstylist uses- at CVS, walmart)

I'd squirt her right in the head with it set on the 'jet stream'. It detered her enough that the other two stepped up and pecked her a couple times. Then everyone was cool with eachother and no more pecking, but my resident hen remained the top hen like she had been.

course none of my birds have tassley fros to intregue pecking interest....hmmm.

hope this helps.....along with the nasty tasting hair bitter spray- however chickens willingly eat dandilion leaves - which last I tasted are BITTER! so I don't know how keen they are on TASTE. which may be why it hasnt worked yet

I hope everyone stops pecking soon. how long has it been, give them a few days (supervised) to duke it out- they may get bored with pecking on him and leave him alone there after....

good luck!
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[chickenwhisperer123]

I would get the smallest most docile of the other chicks and put it in with him.... Everyone needs a friend!!!

 

[Ghostchick]

It really been since his top has has been coming out, so I'm sure that is the problem. Although he was by himself alot, I noticed that alot of times the same breeds are sticking together. He is the only WC Polish I have. He's a dude in with a bunch of hen's I thought he'd be popular! LOL I will try the water bottle and at last resort I will trim it. He just looks so darn cute, especially with the purple. It looked like the blu-kote made it more interesting to them also. I did notice that the top has the feathers that are still in their "sleeve", whatever it is when it comes out of their skin. Could they be helping preen it? It has bloody the first time, but not the next couple times of pecking. I do have time during the day to watch them together, and the kids are his "bodyguards"in case they get too rough. I would like him to stand up for himself though!

 

[Emzyyy]

You could try getting a polish hen?