I would really appreciate any advice anyone could give on this:
For those that just want the quick and dirty, I would like advice on two things. First, recommendations on breeds that are docile, friendly, and less prone to bad behaviors like picking and cannabilism, as well as being cold hardy. I want egg layers but its not as important that they be supreme egg machines as get along well and be able to handle winter temps as I free range as much as I can and I dont want to worry. Secondly I am hoping someone out there has information about pro charge vs avia charge 2000. Anyone have preferences, could I use them together or would that be overkill? is one better than the other? Will either really help my hen stop pecking the other?
The low-down:
I have had problems with pecking recently within my small flock of four. They are a rhode Island Red/New Hampshire red mix. We got them last may as four month old hens. The trouble started a couple months ago. We got rid of the meanest one, found a home for her where a friend was all too stoked at the chance to rehabilitate. miranda is doing great now by the way, no troubles anymore. I was hoping I had culled her in time but alas I did not. The second one to go mean was Charlotte and she was way worse. She was originally my favorite chicken but that changed as she pecked huge holes in the others backs, between the feathers. particularly kept bloodying up Samantha. I tried everything but it didnt stop her so she went away as well. now I am left with just the two, Carrie and Samantha.
Samantha is the sweetest thing, very gentle, well behaved and a great egg layer. Carrie is now feather picking off her butt every day, she isnt as mean as the other two were but i am worried its only a matter of time. So far she hasnt broken her skin like Charlotte was doing thank god! I would just ship her off too as my friend is all too eager for her eggs, but I know Samantha hates to be alone. She panicks every time i have to separate them due to Carrie's picking. So I am trying to salvage Carrie's behavior as best as I can at least until spring when I can get new hens to replenish the flock. I would love some advice as to which breeds i should look into as regards to a docile temperament, hardiness, and cold-hardiness as it gets cold here. I dont care as much about wether they lay lots of eggs as much as wether I am going to have to deal with constant chicken drama as it breaks my heart and is quite frustrating.
Here is what I have been doing: I feed them layer crumbles and they are available to them 24/7 as there is a feeder in the coop and in the tractor. I recently switched from layer pellets to crumbles due to tips on here about how it may lessen the desire to peck because it takes them longer to eat, avoids boredom. In addition to the food they have free-choice grit and oyster shell, and I hide boss daily in leafs. They get the occasional scratch but not often and in small doses, and frequent additions of kitchen scraps mainly fruits/veggie/grain stuff but occasional meat and dairy product makes it in. I have been trying to include more meat for the protien as of late. I move them from the 10 x 30 garden area run off the coop to a small chicken tractor that we move around the yard for sun and lawn exposure, and to stave of boredom, I hang apples and cabbages in both the tractor and the coop, I have a flock block in the coop, and i apply the pick no more daily sometimes multiple times. I keep thinking I have it under control but everything is temporary. she goes back to pecking almost as soon as Samantha has cleaned off the pick no more because she hates it.
The only two things I havent tried are the hot pick spray which I am about to order online as none of the local stores carry it, and the avia charge 2000. Many on this forum have said that these two products are often effective in helping eliminate pecking. In my search for avia charge 2000 I came accross Pro charge and wondered if that may be a good alternative to avia charge 2000. I am a little concerned about the fact that it is a water additive as it is winter and the water freezes and as I break it up I throw ice out which seems to me like I would be tossing out expensive avia charge instead of just a bit of easily replaced and inexpensive water. The Pro charge is something that can be mixed in with the feed but the avia charge does seem to be more of a well rounded supplement from the description. Could I give them both or would that be overkill?
Any opinions on this? I want to make sure I am doing everything I can for my chickens, any additional suggestions are most welcome.
edited for title content
For those that just want the quick and dirty, I would like advice on two things. First, recommendations on breeds that are docile, friendly, and less prone to bad behaviors like picking and cannabilism, as well as being cold hardy. I want egg layers but its not as important that they be supreme egg machines as get along well and be able to handle winter temps as I free range as much as I can and I dont want to worry. Secondly I am hoping someone out there has information about pro charge vs avia charge 2000. Anyone have preferences, could I use them together or would that be overkill? is one better than the other? Will either really help my hen stop pecking the other?
The low-down:
I have had problems with pecking recently within my small flock of four. They are a rhode Island Red/New Hampshire red mix. We got them last may as four month old hens. The trouble started a couple months ago. We got rid of the meanest one, found a home for her where a friend was all too stoked at the chance to rehabilitate. miranda is doing great now by the way, no troubles anymore. I was hoping I had culled her in time but alas I did not. The second one to go mean was Charlotte and she was way worse. She was originally my favorite chicken but that changed as she pecked huge holes in the others backs, between the feathers. particularly kept bloodying up Samantha. I tried everything but it didnt stop her so she went away as well. now I am left with just the two, Carrie and Samantha.
Samantha is the sweetest thing, very gentle, well behaved and a great egg layer. Carrie is now feather picking off her butt every day, she isnt as mean as the other two were but i am worried its only a matter of time. So far she hasnt broken her skin like Charlotte was doing thank god! I would just ship her off too as my friend is all too eager for her eggs, but I know Samantha hates to be alone. She panicks every time i have to separate them due to Carrie's picking. So I am trying to salvage Carrie's behavior as best as I can at least until spring when I can get new hens to replenish the flock. I would love some advice as to which breeds i should look into as regards to a docile temperament, hardiness, and cold-hardiness as it gets cold here. I dont care as much about wether they lay lots of eggs as much as wether I am going to have to deal with constant chicken drama as it breaks my heart and is quite frustrating.
Here is what I have been doing: I feed them layer crumbles and they are available to them 24/7 as there is a feeder in the coop and in the tractor. I recently switched from layer pellets to crumbles due to tips on here about how it may lessen the desire to peck because it takes them longer to eat, avoids boredom. In addition to the food they have free-choice grit and oyster shell, and I hide boss daily in leafs. They get the occasional scratch but not often and in small doses, and frequent additions of kitchen scraps mainly fruits/veggie/grain stuff but occasional meat and dairy product makes it in. I have been trying to include more meat for the protien as of late. I move them from the 10 x 30 garden area run off the coop to a small chicken tractor that we move around the yard for sun and lawn exposure, and to stave of boredom, I hang apples and cabbages in both the tractor and the coop, I have a flock block in the coop, and i apply the pick no more daily sometimes multiple times. I keep thinking I have it under control but everything is temporary. she goes back to pecking almost as soon as Samantha has cleaned off the pick no more because she hates it.
The only two things I havent tried are the hot pick spray which I am about to order online as none of the local stores carry it, and the avia charge 2000. Many on this forum have said that these two products are often effective in helping eliminate pecking. In my search for avia charge 2000 I came accross Pro charge and wondered if that may be a good alternative to avia charge 2000. I am a little concerned about the fact that it is a water additive as it is winter and the water freezes and as I break it up I throw ice out which seems to me like I would be tossing out expensive avia charge instead of just a bit of easily replaced and inexpensive water. The Pro charge is something that can be mixed in with the feed but the avia charge does seem to be more of a well rounded supplement from the description. Could I give them both or would that be overkill?
Any opinions on this? I want to make sure I am doing everything I can for my chickens, any additional suggestions are most welcome.
edited for title content
Last edited by a moderator:
