My blue andalusian is pecking my brahma- adult beak trimming?

[goldengirlmum]

Hello, I have four chickens living in my backyard. We have just gotten thru winter and I have noticed that my blonde brahma has no butt feathers and loosing neck feathers. I have noticed that my blue andalusian (BA) looks very healthy and I have reason to believe that she is pecking at my blonde Brahma. I called the farmer that I bought my chickens from. And he told me to either kill my BA (HECK NO!! they are my pets) or I can trim her beak. I have read that trimming a chicken's beak can help with cannablism, but I only see info on doing it on chicks.
I really don't want to loose any of my chickens, I am especially fond of my blonde brahma. I have tried tea tree pecking lotion, feather food, etc. I thought initially that they were bored cause they have been cooped up all winter.

My plan is to take my BA and wrap her up in a towel, and clip her top beak with a dog nail clipper. And do this every 6 weeks till my Brahma gets her feathers back.

I guess my question is, has anyone done this before, any suggestions or tips? Can I do this on a mature chicken? Will it still be able to eat or drink?

Thanks, Golden Girls Mummy

 

[imnukensc]

I wouldn't trim her beak. I'd put pinless peepers on her. They work extremely well to stop pecking. Had a similar situation with 2 of my adult BRs pecking one of my juvenile BRs mercilessly. Pinless peepers on the adults stopped the pecking. Took them off the adults after about the 3 months and the bullying behavior did not return.

 

[sourland]

Try an on site search on 'pin less peepers'. They can effectively solve the problem. You do realize that if you trim the beak enough to solve the problem it will cause bleeding, right ?

 

[SunHwaKwon]

She'll still be able to grab and pull feathers with that level of trimming. Chick trimming is some with a hot wire or metal and takes off a lot more of the beak. Your best bet is to separate them. How many birds do you have and how big are your coop and run?

 

[goldengirlmum]

Try an on site search on 'pin less peepers'. They can effectively solve the problem. You do realize that if you trim the beak enough to solve the problem it will cause bleeding, right ?

Yes, that is what I am worried about. I dont want to make the chicken bleed or anything!

 

[goldengirlmum]

She'll still be able to grab and pull feathers with that level of trimming. Chick trimming is some with a hot wire or metal and takes off a lot more of the beak. Your best bet is to separate them. How many birds do you have and how big are your coop and run?

I only have Four birds. They are 2 years old.

 

[goldengirlmum]

She'll still be able to grab and pull feathers with that level of trimming. Chick trimming is some with a hot wire or metal and takes off a lot more of the beak. Your best bet is to separate them. How many birds do you have and how big are your coop and run?

My chickens have a 6 Foot coop, 12 foot outdoor covered area,and a 50 foot run.

 

[goldengirlmum]

Should I buy 3 pinless peepers for the 3 birds that arent loosing feathers? Or just the one (assumed) culprit?

 

[imnukensc]

Should only have to be put on the bully, but they're cheap. Buy a few just in case or for future use.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Besides the Brahma and Andalusian what other breeds do you have?
How large is your run?
What type of feed are your birds fed?