new here but need advice

[emmalou1405]

Hi I'm emma , I currently have 10 hens 5 hybrids 4 silkie crosses. And a silkie up until the past few days they have got on fine, but now one of the hybrids has started attacking the silie and the crosses so much it has left them with out feathers on their heads like no pom poms and they have been bleeding what can I do

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

You will need to separate this bully out for a while. Maybe a few weeks to allow the flock to regroup, possibly adjust the pecking order and cause this bird to feel as if she were brand new.

Get some blu-kote for the heads. You can get this at most feed stores in the horse section. It is an antiseptic spray that will help to combat infection and will also hide any wounds and skin. The birds will be less tempted to pick at these wounds. Use a glove on your hand when you spray this stuff as it stains. If you are using it around eyes and faces, you can spray it in a glass bowl and apply with a q-tip. Wash the bowl quick like.

Good luck with your babies! Sometimes birds just go off on each other, especially if they are cramped in or cooped up for a few days. So make sure they have enough room and have things to do...hanging veggies or cabbages, seed pecking blocks or even a flake of alfalfa hay. Get them out to free range to occupy their time.

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

Good advice from twocrows

 

[drumstick diva]

Silkies tend to get picked on because they look so much different than other chickens. Also they tend to be more docile probably because their vision is obscured by big crests and beards. If you don't want to put the meanie in time out - divide them into two flocks - hybrids as one and silkie & crosses as the other.

If meanie decides to attack her own group - then it's time she met with the soup pot. No clemency for her.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! TwoCrows gave you some good advice. There are several nice articles on dealing with chicken bullys in the Learning Center https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/bullying-behavior-in-chickens and https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/a-guide-to-understanding-the-chicken-pecking-order Pinless Peepers are another thing to consider if you know who the main trouble maker is. But, special breeds like silkies and polish sometimes can not be kept with regular chickens or they will be picked on, you may have to make arrangements to keep them permanently separated.

 

[emmalou1405]

Thank you every one for all the advise I am going to seperate them this morning and see how it goes fingers crossed it works I don't want to have to get rid of any but will keep it as an option if there is still no improvement . Thank you again x

 

[gander007]