Help! Feather pecking hens ganging up on 1

[kristin07035]

Hi I have an EE who's definitely at the bottom of the pecking order. I have 4 hens (1-EE, 1-Welsummer, 2 Dominques) who are around 10 months old that I picked up last month. My EE was always missing feathers on her back, but closer to her tail feathers, the people I got them from said she must have been the roosters favorite but now a month later its not any better & I dont have any roosters. I noticed today through a window all the other 3 were pecking at her!

I can't separate so I want to try a saddle/apron.

They are NOT use to being handled will I be able to get it on her? Maybe if I scoop her up at night from her

 

[kristin07035]

Oh they have free choice 24/7 of oyster shell and organic layer pellets. Every night they get several handfuls of BOSS and daily "treats" like yogurt, oatmeal, tomatoes, grapes, & greens.

 

[blucoondawg]

Make sure your coop and run is large enough you should be able to catch her easily at night. If there is blood make sure its covered with the saddle it can help to spray with blue kote to get rid of the red blood color

 

[kristin07035]

Make sure your coop and run is large enough you should be able to catch her easily at night. If there is blood make sure its covered with the saddle it can help to spray with blue kote to get rid of the red blood color

Luckily no blood.
Have you used aprons? Will the apron work? Will she keep it on? If I get her at night off her roost will it be too difficult to put it on her?

 

[kristin07035]

Oh & size should be more than ok.
They have a 15x20 foot run area & the coop I bought said fit 4-6.

 

[blucoondawg]

Yes the apron should work if the wound will be under it some are shorter than others. As to whether she will keep it on that depends I have a couple that seem to get them off and others that never come off. They are easy to put on once you catch the hen. 15x20 is plenty of run but I have to wonder about some of those small coops. I suppose they're ok if they have enough roost space and the birds spend the days outside

 

[cafarmgirl]

Most of those small, pre-fab coops that I have seen grossly overstate the number of birds they are truly capable of housing. Plenty of space is really important and even more so if they have a pecking problem. You might try adding some distractions to keep them busy. Toss in a big flake of alfalfa hay for them to scratch apart, toss some scratch or meal worms on top to increase the foraging opportunity. Let them out if at all possible.

As far as the saddle...all you can do is try. Get her off the roost at night and put it on. I have only had to use one once and that hen turned out to be a Houdini who excelled at removing it!

 

[kristin07035]

Yes very disappointed with the size of the coop when I got it. Purposely ordered the larger one so they'd have extra room & knowing eventually I'd want more than just the first 4....spring project is trying to build a bigger one.
They are always "out" (have covered run thats about 15x20 feet) only locked up at night.
Dont know why they are doing it...every time I enter/leave the coop/run I throw them handfuls of scratch (they like to try & get out between my legs)
They get a treat ball filled with greens (kale, spinach, dandelions, ect) in the morning, a plate of fruits or vegetables or yogurt or oatmeal around lunch time, & BOSS in the evening an hour before dark.
Hopefully I can put the apron on her & she'll keep it on until I can get the bigger coop constructed.