Buffs, I think are being picked on

[Susan945]

2 of our Buffs and one of our Easter Eggers have very red but no blood yet around their becks and a spot on the side of their heads. I think they are being picked on becasue the other 3 Buffs and 6 Easter Eggers are fine. We have the Gold Lace Wyandotte, Barred Rock, Buffs, Easter Eggers and Guineas. They are only 11 weeks old. I didn't think they would start picking on each other so soon.
What can I put around their becks safely to keep other from picking at them. Any suggestions??
Also we only have 2 roosters in the bunch.. Not sure about the guineas..

 

[nj2wv]

welcome to BYC !!


I always separate them until they heal up.

 

[junebuggena]

How big is their coop and run, and how many do you have?

 

[Mrs. K]

Many times what was enough room when they were younger and smaller, rapidly becomes not enough room when they grow. Pecking is often a sign of over crowding.

 

[Susan945]

All together we have 31 - 23 hens - 2 roosters and 6 guineas. The coop is a double layer - each being 14X8 with over all height being 10 ft, with space at one end so they can go up and down as they choose. Roost are in both areas so they can do either layer. We have not put the laying boxes in yet since they are still so young. Both layers have water and a feeder in them. Their run is a 50X50 with trees and roosting areas in it. Do you think that is big enough?

What medicine do you all use to heal the cuts around the becks? Seems like they are being picked on around the face area.

Would you remove the guineas to their own area? I am wondering if they are the ones being mean..

 

[junebuggena]

Your coop is just big enough for your chickens alone. I have no idea how much space a guinea needs, but I'm guessing it's more than a chicken would. That run seem plenty big for the chickens, but again, I have know idea how much room a guinea requires. It very well may be that your guineas are the ones feeling overcrowded.

 

[nj2wv]

Put the injured ones in a cage or build a separate area in the coop that is covered so they stop being pecked and can heal

 

[Granny368W]

We had put all of our chicks in the coop as soon as we finished it... but I had to separate the 4 week old from the 7 week olds.... one chick was being picked on so I had to bring her back into the house... I put bacitracin on her sore.. it looks much better today but I will have to keep her in the house until it is all heald... I'm wondering how long that might be...

 

[Mrs. K]

Be aware that when you separate a hen from her flock, they forget her, and when you try and put her back she is a single bird that the flock regards as a stranger and will be rather mean to.

 

[Granny368W]

Be aware that when you separate a hen from her flock, they forget her, and when you try and put her back she is a single bird that the flock regards as a stranger and will be rather mean to.

What should I have done then? I'm hoping that I can put her back in the night time and maybe they will be okay with her.... she had no skin left on the side of her head, so I put bacitracin on it.... if I put her back now they will keep pecking on it...