Combs being pecked and bleeding! Can anyone help??

[ChickenGirly]

I have 12 chickens, 10 of which have combs being pecked by the other two! I have no other pens or cages to separate those two, and I absolutely don't want to put them down. Is there some kind of product that's safe for chickens I can put on their combs that tastes nasty? Or are there any other suggestions? Please help! I don't want this to get worse!

Thanks for any help that anyone can provide!

 

[Eggcessive]

There are many causes for pecking--too little room, boredom, too little protein in diet, or bullies. The bullies have to be separated or they need to go outside.

 

[ChickenGirly]

We actually just extended their pen, and they free range a lot, while we watch them, so I don't think it's boredom or too little room. I can't separate them, because they're too big and noisy to keep in the house, and, unfortunately, we don't have another pen, and I do try to get them High-quality feed, with good amounts of protein. I just don't know what to do.

 

[Wyandottes7]

Isolating the birds that are pecking for two weeks would be one of the best options. When they are put back in to the flock, they will be low in the pecking order, and won't be able to do much picking for a while.

However, as long as the injuries aren't bad, and there isn't much blood, I think it would be fine to keep them together. Eventually, they should work out the pecking order. My chickens occaisonally peck each other and slightly injure each other's combs, but most of the time they get along just fine. Just put some antibiotic ointment on the combs, and make sure that the injuries don't get worse.

 

[ChickenGirly]

Thank you, Wyandottes7! I have no way of separating my girls, but the bleeding has not been bad, but just enough I'm worried their combs could get infected. I'm also entering two of my girls in a county fair in seven days, so I want to get their combs healed up nicely. Maybe I'll try to find the ointment you use. What brand is it?

Thanks again!

 

[Wyandottes7]

Thank you, Wyandottes7! I have no way of separating my girls, but the bleeding has not been bad, but just enough I'm worried their combs could get infected. I'm also entering two of my girls in a county fair in seven days, so I want to get their combs healed up nicely. Maybe I'll try to find the ointment you use. What brand is it?

Thanks again!

Any antibiotic ointment without pain killers or ingredients ending in "caine" or "cain" are fine for chickens.

 

[ChickenGirly]

Thank you again. I'm guessing I can find some at a local drug store.

~ChickenGirly

 

[sourland]

Pinless Peepers affixed to the two bullies might solve the problem.

 

[enola]

Vitamin E will help the combs heal. I love pinless peepers. They change the whole scenario involving bullies.

 

[ChickenGirly]

May I ask what pinless peepers is?