Feather Pecking on lower back

[Rob]

causing a little blood for the first time is there something I may have to stop this, I have 5 hens and care for them all?

 

[Chicken Woman]

The best thing to do is watch them or set up a camera so you can find out who is the bully !

If your girl is bleeding please seperate her to a kennel or cage until she is healed !
Once your chickens taste blood you will have a huge problem with cannibilism. They will continue to go after her injured spot , it's just their nature. Clean injury with betadine and then apply antibiotic cream but DO NOT USE THE KIND THAT RELIEVES PAIN. Sorry didn't mean to yell but the stuff is toxic to chickens.

Hope that helps.

After you find the bully you can seperate that hen for about a week and when she returns she should be the new girl and won't be so high on the pecking order.

 

[MTtroutwithwings]

Another BYC chicken person in MT named Lori? Wow, what are the odds?
I've been vacant too long from BYC.
Rob... try using blukote antiseptic as well... I have the same problem but it does stop as the chickens don't like the taste if it, and it will dye stain the beaks of the culprit(s) so you'll know who is the problem!

So, chicken woman, where in MT are you? I'm in Canyon Creek.
Not too many BYC'er in MT.

Lori

 

[katrinag]

You can also use pine tar.

 

[Chicken Woman]

I am in Billings. There is another BYCER here and another that I am friends with in Great Falls.

I tried Blu Kote, pine tar,no pic and black grease but
it did not stop the pecking until I removed the hen and caged the culprit. I eventually had to rehome the culprit to another flock where she would be at the bottom of the pecking order and she is doing well there.

Where is Canyon Creek ?

 

[MTtroutwithwings]

We're 25 miles NW of Helena. Love the chicken butt avatar, I have four birds that look just like that!

The last bird I had to bring in for being under attack (this was her second round in a year) one of my rancher friends came in and asked, What's the matter with her, did she freeze her butt off?"

This of course was during that major cold spell we had last month.
We all seem to be spread out. We have one in Kalispell (unionwirewoman) and one in Havre (?) and another in Clancy (rockymountainchick) her name is Libby, we've actually met and had lunch together. She works in Helena for the Seiben Ranch Co who we bought our property from, small world in some ways. Good to hear from another BYC'er in Mt!

 

[bigzio]

Glad you are here for all the help and fun everyone can provide.

bigzio

 

[Chicken Woman]

Oh yea ! Please excuse our manners !!!

We like to have fun on here ! Could you tell !