HI BYC!! My mommy calls me Henny Penny! My coopmates pick on me! Like, for real... PICK on me, mainly my but feathers but my neck too!! My mommy doesn't know what else to do with me!! She has put me in my own cage but the picking was worse when I went back to the coop! She also sprayed my butt w/ cold smelly stuff that actually tasted kinda good any one have any more ideas for me and my mommy?!?!?!!?
One of your others is starting the pecking and the others are following along. Sit and watch, really watch them and you should be able to sort out who it is. THAT is the one that needs to be separated. Preferably permanently, but at least for a week. In the meantime, see if you can get some of that purple stuff (forgot the name) or pine tar from the feed store to stop them pecking that spot. She's not the problem, another hen is. That other hen is the one that needs to be taken away, not her.
I agree with Galani. Watch and see what is going on. You know for the life of me I can't remember what the name of the 'purple stuff' is either. It comes in a spray can (that's the kind I get). It kills germs and also tastes bad and the hens don't usually peck at the purple. One thing you can watch for is if the other hens are eating the feathers. If they are they need extra protein in their diet. I had a problem with feather picking and eating and on the advice of a BYC member I purchased cheap hamburger, fried it and mixed it with some cottage cheese. Looks disgusting but I gave the chickens this mixture every other day for a week and they stopped picking on each other. Give each chicken a few tablespoons. Now I give my chickens extra protein when ever I have it. One thing they really like is the bones from a roasted chicken or turkey. After I take all the meat off I pull the carcass in half and put it in their pen. They go after it like pirannah. After the bones are picked clean (and it keeps them busy for a while) I put the bones in a covered compost container. Nothing goes to waste.
Oooh purple... Gentian violet(what they use to use on babies belly buttons)?? Also found blue-Kote for horses(spray)?? Now that u mention it I did notice they are eating the feathers!!!!! Protein is worth a try!!
I have had the same problem. Go to the Feed store and get Rooster Booster pick no more. you can also get it online. It's purple pine tar and stinks real bad. you slap that on that poor chickens butt and the pecking WILL stop immediately ! I had 5 of my hens picking each other until they bleed !! Wear gloves or your hands will be purple for a loooong time. The Bluekote is for HEALING not for stop pecking ! You don't need to separate any one . Just slap on that lotion and you will be fine. Keep us posted. good luck
