I have tried EVERYTHING!! Help!

[jtr]

buy some no peck stuff and put it on them were they are being pecked also how old are they if they are young they could be getting there pecking order down

 

[BigDaddy'sGurl]

Quote:
? Just went to look at my cat's food and for my adult cat it was 27% protein and for my kitten chow it was 40%... much much higher % than chicken feed...

 

[newchick13]

I would definitely divide and conquer since you have tons of room. I had a little chick with a bloody pecked tush and separated her for one week till her skin had healed. I then used Rooster Booster no pick lotion on the area. They all left her alone after that. I guess the stuff tasted like garbage. It did stain her feathers this weird iridescent purple which is just now (3 weeks later) till slightly visible.

 

[norcal]

We've been having the same problem for about 1.5 yrs. We've tried everything.
We tried separating them.
We tried cat food & BOSS.

We even free range now during the day (not smart if you want to keep them, but at this point I don't care).

The only thing that remotely worked, but I got tired of dealing with, was Chicken Saddles/Aprons.
I don't have the time to make them & wash them.

I'm about ready to just let them all go, put them in the freezer or whatever,
and START OVER.

 

[Beekissed]

You could try some Nu-Stock....should be able to get it at TSC or feed stores. If not, you can buy it online. Apply liberally to all bare places...it tends to stick around well, so reapplication may not be as frequent as other things. It is supposed to promote regrowth of hair or feathers and the nasty taste is supposed to deter licking of the spot...or picking for flavor, in this case. I love Nu-STock...one application did for my scale mites and promoted rapid new growth of healthy, shiny scales in short order.

Some old-timers say to add some salt to their water...I've heard this really works.

Me? If it weren't mites, lice, etc. that was causing the denudation or the need to pick at the feathers, I'd figure it is a nutritional problem other than protein, as you've already increased proteins. You might buy a bag of fish or kelp meal and offer it free choice, as well as a suet feeder and offer some suet. The kelp meal contains many valuable nutrients and minerals that they may need.

 

[jtr]

Quote:
rooster booster thats what i had to use for my brown leghorns the rir and white leghorns were pecking the crap out of them

 

[jtr]

Quote:
try the rooster booster stuff it is cheap and it works i always have 3 bottles on hand because mine do this and i cant free range because of the cats dogs foxes coons skunks coyetes wolves cougars and pretty much anything you can think of and it really works good they peck it and they jump back and shake there head like crazy

 

[allpeepedout]

This may have become a habit, even if you resolved an original issue like protein. I suspect that picking on each other must be the chicken version of smoking to pass the time. Maybe they just need more to do? Mine seem to be amazingly active animals that become bored, despite being peanut brained.

I would add a few large objects, even old junk like kid's wagon or dog kennel, to the runs, to break up the space and create more private areas (but make sure to have way in and out of every corner you create). Add multiple perches and concrete blocks to create activity at different levels, toss in flakes of alfalfa hay to tear apart and forage, hide scratch under layers of hay so they have a mission, hang cabbages or toss in large cabbage leaves or whole apples that take some work to dissemble, add piles of leaves or yard debris, low tubs of water for wading, raised bed wire-covered chicken salad bars, cut branches with leaves on them to create complexity or any nontoxic natural elements for them to peck at, tear apart, and explore--so many great ideas here on the BYC--and let your imagination be your guide.

Good luck.

 

[openheartnp]

Quote:
try the rooster booster stuff it is cheap and it works i always have 3 bottles on hand because mine do this and i cant free range because of the cats dogs foxes coons skunks coyetes wolves cougars and pretty much anything you can think of and it really works good they peck it and they jump back and shake there head like crazy

You can also try duct tape instead of the aprons. I think i read it here somewhere... I had fleece on my sweet bottom-of-the-pecking-order hen, but it's too hot for summer. duct tape really doesn't stick to their skin, they are too dusty. You can cover that part wwith powder if you are concerned, though. Next, though, I'm going to separate them.

 

[norcal]

Looked at TSC, no Rooster Booster, no Nu Stock. ??

I think it's the barred-rocks (the older chickens).
I'm wondering if I get some new chicks & get rid of the BRs, if the Buffs will peck?
Even though they don't now. ??