Hens attacking my polish roo

[GeoEllis]

Hey everyone, im new here i recently started my second flock after my first one was demolished by a predator. My second group are 4 cinnamon queens and 4 BSL with one polish hen and a polish roo. Ive recently been having issues with my polish hen being serious pecked at, too the point we've removed her from the coop. Now my roo is being serious pecked as well to the point ive had to remove him. They are free ranged and i have feeders set up as well. Has Anyone else had these issues? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[Cre8joy]

We have polish roo that was given to us when we expanded our flock in late summer. He gets picked on too. when we got him he had been in some serious cock fights and it was clear he didn't come out on top. he didn't have the poof on top or a tail! he has since mostly grown back his tail but his poof has yet to return. I think our hens are picking on him because he's still trying to grow those feathers in. I picked up some rooster booster peck no more lotion and it seems to have deterred the aggressors. I believe his poof is making an attempt to come in now.

My advice though since yours isn't recovering like ours would be to watch for the aggressors and remove them from the coop for a few days to re-establish the pecking order and pick up some peck no more it really does work. best of luck!

 

[Helloworld]

Polish, silkies and other simular birds are considered ornamental birds and should be treated with care and placed with other cresteds. I have crested and normal chickens and the crested are too sensitive, easily breakable and lovers.

My biggest beef with shipped polish:

Normaly, I do not have them as a separate shipment and so mixed with normal ones they tend to become the corner cusions and end up having most die. So, no more of that. I recently found out that Polish have that large cotton ball for protection since their fontonel takes months to completely close. See how delicate environment they need?

 

[ChickNanny13]

Yup, I've read Polish tend to get "picked" on, especially their "puff". Silkies too have a "soft spot" on the top of their heads, from what I've read. I would think it's best not to mix the "ornamental" with regular flock but many have. So hang in there those that have the experience with the breed to answer.

 

[aart]

Hey everyone, im new here i recently started my second flock after my first one was demolished by a predator. My second group are 4 cinnamon queens and 4 BSL with one polish hen and a polish roo. Ive recently been having issues with my polish hen being serious pecked at, too the point we've removed her from the coop. Now my roo is being serious pecked as well to the point ive had to remove him. They are free ranged and i have feeders set up as well. Has Anyone else had these issues? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

How old are these birds?
Did they all come from the same place?
If not, how did you introduce/integrate them?
How big is your coop and run, in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics would help immensely.

Oh, and.... Welcome to BYC @GeoEllis !
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there

 

[GeoEllis]

How old are these birds?
Did they all come from the same place?
If not, how did you introduce/integrate them?
How big is your coop and run, in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics would help immensely.

Oh, and.... Welcome to BYC @GeoEllis !
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there
View attachment 1719763

Ive had my two polish for almost a year now and the 4 cinnamon queens and 4 BSL back at the beginning of September i raised all of them as chicks. When i introduced them to each other i had them in a separate fenced area next to the polish and let them in with each other a couple weeks after. Its now start of spring here in Colorado still a little mild weather but they have been with each other all winter and hadn't had any problems. I have a Turkey and thats where everything started was with my jake. The hens started peeking at his tail feathers until they broke the skin i seen what was happening and removed him to his own area away from them. Then my polish hen started getting attacked i removed her and shes healing quite well. Now my polish roo is being serious pecked at. My coop is a 4×5x6

 

[GeoEllis]

Ive had my two polish for almost a year now and the 4 cinnamon queens and 4 BSL back at the beginning of September i raised all of them as chicks. When i introduced them to each other i had them in a separate fenced area next to the polish and let them in with each other a couple weeks after. Its now start of spring here in Colorado still a little mild weather but they have been with each other all winter and hadn't had any problems. I have a Turkey and thats where everything started was with my jake. The hens started peeking at his tail feathers until they broke the skin i seen what was happening and removed him to his own area away from them. Then my polish hen started getting attacked i removed her and shes healing quite well. Now my polish roo is being serious pecked at. My coop is a 4×5x6

The area they free range is a good 20×20 ft area and they even go out side the fenced area. I give them a high protein feed. and even have another feed out there filled of scratch.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Wow, he's really being picked on. You have 2 Polish + 4 Cinnamon Queens + 4 BSL = 10 chickens in a coop 4x5x6, run 20x20. That's pretty cramped ... The recommended space in a coop is 4sq ft per bird, run 10sq ft per bird. Your run looks/is spacious but the coop sounds cramped. Have you seen the other pecking at him in the run or are you thinking he's being picked on while in the coop?

Assuming the wounds been cleaned out, keep it moist with Neosporin without the pain relief. Vetericyn spray would work too.

 

[GeoEllis]

Wow, he's really being picked on. You have 2 Polish + 4 Cinnamon Queens + 4 BSL = 10 chickens in a coop 4x5x6, run 20x20. That's pretty cramped ... The recommended space in a coop is 4sq ft per bird, run 10sq ft per bird. Your run looks/is spacious but the coop sounds cramped. Have you seen the other pecking at him in the run or are you thinking he's being picked on while in the coop?

Assuming the wounds been cleaned out, keep it moist with Neosporin without the pain relief. Vetericyn spray would work too.

Yea i found him huddled up in one of the nesting boxes in the coop. So im think it is to small ill have to build on to it more. Ive definitely been keeping it cleaned and putting bagbalm on it

 

[ChickNanny13]

You may want to make him put him in a wire cage with food/water, put the cage in the coop so he's protected. In the run, make some hiding places that he can hide and/or get away from being picked on.