How do I stop my chickens from pecking each other? *GRAPHIC PICTURES*

[OrpieLover31]

Yesterday I went outside to let the chickens out, and I noticed that one of the newer chickens that I recently bought had a entire chunk of skin pulled off!! I believe that one of my older Lavender Orpingtons did that to the younger chicken! I realized that one Lavender Orpington kept on picking one the two newbies. It looked like she was purposely trying to yank out feathers out of her neck! I have some pictures of the younger chicken who is injured.












What should use to treat this? And how do I stop the chickens from really hurting each other?

 

[ForeverJudy3]

When I bring a newbie into the flock I create a small pen in the run where they are separated . They won't be able to fight or hurt each other. If you do it for about a month, its works perfect and they will let her in the flock

 

[OrpieLover31]

When I bring a newbie into the flock I create a small pen in the run where they are separated . They won't be able to fight or hurt each other. If you do it for about a month, its works perfect and they will let her in the flock

I let my chickens free range everyday, and I dont have any chicken tractors. How would it work? I have the two newbies separated in a new chicken coop that I just built. The chicken coops are right next to each other.. will that work?

 

[PoultryGirly]

You can get pin-less peepers for your bully hen. They are little plastic blinders that you place onto your chicken's beaks so they won't be able to see/peck. At first, they're a little bothersome to the chicken it's applied to, but they soon get the hang of it. http://www.randallburkey.com/Pin-Less-Peepers-100-Pkg/productinfo/10097/#.UUPQMpG9KSM

http://the-spice-girls.blogspot.com/2012/01/pinless-peeper.html

 

[OrpieLover31]

You can get pin-less peepers for your bully hen. They are little plastic blinders that you place onto your chicken's beaks so they won't be able to see/peck. At first, they're a little bothersome to the chicken it's applied to, but they soon get the hang of it. http://www.randallburkey.com/Pin-Less-Peepers-100-Pkg/productinfo/10097/#.UUPQMpG9KSM

http://the-spice-girls.blogspot.com/2012/01/pinless-peeper.html

Thats interesting... I have never heard of those!! I will defiantly put that into consideration...

 

[PoultryGirly]

I've heard they work great!

 

[OrpieLover31]

I've heard they work great!

Okay! Cool... I might have to get myself some of those!

 

[cafarmgirl]

I let my chickens free range everyday, and I dont have any chicken tractors. How would it work? I have the two newbies separated in a new chicken coop that I just built. The chicken coops are right next to each other.. will that work?

Yes, anything that allows them to spend the day right alongside and visible to the older birds but still separate will work. The older birds need plenty of time, think weeks, to get used to seeing new birds every day before they are put together. Putting newbies in too soon will often result in nasty injuries like this and worse. The extra effort is well worth it. Sometimes if the older ones get it in their heads to attack and peck like this they don't always stop, no matter what you do. If you give them enough time to get bored with each other pecking order scuffles are usually minor. Usually!

 

[ForeverJudy3]

That could work. It will take time though. What we did was cut the run in half with chicken wire and placed the new chicken on one side and the regular flock on the other. If you do that then just take a day without free ranging so they can be near other. Eventually you can remove it have no problems. Good luck

 

[OrpieLover31]

Yes, anything that allows them to spend the day right alongside the older birds but still separate will work. The older birds need plenty of time, think weeks, to get used to seeing new birds every day before they are put together. Putting newbies in too soon will often result in nasty injuries like this and worse. The extra effort is well worth it. Sometimes if the older ones get it in their heads to attack and peck like this they don't always stop, no matter what you do. If you give them enough time to get bored with each other pecking order scuffles are usually minor. Usually!

Alright then. What should I do with the injured chicken though?