Cat food, pine tar, blue kote, pecked chicken

[raisingirl78]

Hi,

I have been reading as much as possible on this site about pecking order, pine tar and blue kote for pecked feathers/skin, and treating the pecked chicken with high protein supplements and cat food. I just have a few specific questions....

I have 3 pecked up chickens in a flock of 8 adults (I have 8 baby chicks but they have not yet joined the flock). The smallest of the flock is a gimp - she has a twisted foot and is picked on pretty badly. I recently started free ranging the girls so they would not be bored, but the pecking continued.

I tried blue kote first. It works, but is very messy.
I tried pine tar next and it seems to work as well; however, my question is - should I apply it every day until the feathers grow back??

My last question is about the cat food for the pecked chickens: wet canned food or dry? s there a brand or flavor that is preferable? Chunky wet food or ground? 1 small can (like Friskies) per chicken?? Or should I do the supplement that goes in the water instead? (I forget the name, something 2000).

Thanks for any help you can provide!!

 

[klmclain1]

Re: cat food... I have 7 girls and will give them a cup of dry cat food every few days, or a small can of wet cat food mixed with oats. They love both! I am still having pecking problems though - I've kinda given up for the moment. One other thing I'm trying - I'm attempting to get up earlier in the mornings to let them out. Mine free-range all day and I'm thinking they might be bored in the early morning and THAT may lead to the pecking.

 

[raisingirl78]

That's what I had thought as well. So I do the same thing! I open their pen gate before I leave for work around 5:30a and they stay out until after 7:30p. But the same 3 girls get their behinds pecked at. I am mostly worried about the little girl, lovingly known as "Curly" because of her twisted foot. I'm hoping the pine tar will help and I looked up the supplement again - the Avia Charge 2000 - I'm gonna get a small container of that and try it out.....