Chickens Pecking hen

[walkerkm]

Okay... The bad girl is now in time out for a few days... She's not happy about it. I put her in a cage and have her in the coop. How many days is enough-5 seems like a long time. What do i do if the others start pecking the injured hen? Should i then take her out and put her ib the cage? What can i put on the injured hen to keep the others away? Blu-kote doesn't seem to keep them away.

Thanks!
Kelly

 

[samnsuey]

Quote:
Try about 2-3 days. It seems to be long enough for her to be away.

 

[walkerkm]

okay, it's been 4 days now that the bad girl has been separated and all the other hens are now pecking at my poor girl and making her bald. I'm thinking it's best to separate her so she can heal and her feathers can grow back. I think the others are in the cycle of pecking at her because she is missing feathers-any suggestions?

i'm just afraid that when i put her back at some point with the others, that she'll be really at the bottom of the pecking order. How can i make them stop pecking at her-i hate to punish her as she is the one getting picked on.

 

[DaughterOfEve]

I had a similar issue with a pheonix hen who seemed to be doing okay in the pecking order then all of a sudden her shoulders were picked to the bone. Blu Kote did not work, pine tar, did not work. She then started her molt. I wondered if possibly this is why they started pecking her in the first place. She was just not feeling herself ya know. I made a little area up above the nesting boxes for her to eat and drink so she would hide out from the others. Everytime she jumped down off her perch, they would charge into the coop and nail her. Once her little hide out was set up, the pecked area healed and she came into her new feathers very quickly. Everything is back to normal now. Best of luck with the duct tape, thats a new one by me.

 

[Kittymomma]

Not sure if it would work, but could you change up your roosts? If everybody had to change spots she might get a break. Mine all like the highest spot, not sure how you're set up, but if everything is at the same height that could cut down on some of the fussing too.

ETA: There is a pattern around here somewhere for a no sew fleece saddle, one of those might protect her too.