Do pecking sprays work?

[SW31]

My little hen, at the bottom of the pecking order, keeps being pecked by the older and larger birds.
There are several pecking sprays on the market that purport to reduce pecking as the sprays have a nasty taste that discourages the other hens.
My question is firstly, do they actually work and, if so, which brands or substances, should I look out for.
It’s too easy to buy loads of stuff for chicken keeping. Some of it is good but there’s an aweful lot of ‘rubbish’ being marketed as well so I thought it better to come to the experts first!

 

[aart]

I've read very few anecdotes where they actually worked,
read many where they did not work.

I'd look at other issues before trying the sprays.
How badly is she being pecked?
Just a tap or two then she moves away, because she has plenty of space(at least 4') to get away??
Or is she being chased, trapped/pinned down, and beaten unmercilessly until she's bloody??

There will always be a low bird, and other pecking order issues are managed with some pecking. Lots of space and multiple feed/water stations can help a lot.

 

[SW31]

Thanks for advice. Yes, she gets a heavy tap or two then moves away. Definitely not the extreme kind. I just think sometimes she doesn’t always see the larger birds coming for her. Mind you she does push her luck at times and can be a bit ‘cheeky’. But she is my favourite and the others probably know that.
When the others won’t let her near the treats she knows she can come behind my legs, when I’m sitting on the bench, and get treats there with my legs, and sometimes feet, as protection. There is plenty of space in the run and I’ve put storage, pallets and seats in to provide escape areas.

 

[SW31]

I forgot to mention I have put four feeders in and three water containers for six hens!

 

[aart]

Spread the treats far and wide and don't try to 'protect' her.
Let them manage what sounds like typical pecking order stuff.
Trying to 'fix' it might only make it worse.

 

[Kris5902]

My experience with the no-peck stuff was just some staining, stinky, neck feathers... and I ended up with some blue beaked bullies. Granted I was dealing with cockerels, and the low boy was being mercilessly pecked, chased, pinned, and kept from feed and water. I had to completely separate him and culled 3/7 (him and the 2 worst offenders, due to other reasons as well)

I was just hoping the no-peck stuff would buy him a little peace until I had enough time for culling. But it was a complete failure for me.

 

[Chickassan]

@aart is absolutly correct. Firstly lets clear something up and maybe change your view on what you're seeing.
Pecking isn't aggression 95% of the time it is communication, they literally talk with their whole head.
So that awful bullying peck isn't anything of the sort.
She's got the chicken thing figured out, don't worry about your hen.

 

[rosemarythyme]

As long as she isn't being injured or chased so badly that she can't eat/drink, then it's normal pecking order stuff. Someone has to be on the bottom (and it's usually the owner's favorite) but as far as the chicken is concerned, it means she's still a member of the flock.