I raised two polish hens, and the flock took turns pecking them bald from about 3 months to the end of their lives. I used BluKote spray when it would happen, and repeat it every other day until all feathers grew back, for about a month. They would leave them alone, but a few months later, it might happen again. Usually you would notice a few feathers missing, and if you didn’t start the BluKote, they would be all gone in a day or two. Once a young cockerel tried to mate one unsuccessfully, and he scalped her and left her in a ditch after beating her up. That one got placed in a dog crate for 3 days, and treated with neosporin ointment, then later with BluKote when she was let out.
I trimmed their feathers around their eyes so they could see better, and not bump into the other chickens which sometimes caused a tussle. They may bleed if trimmed too short.
I lost the first to a predator inside the yard one day, and her sister who had been blinded in one eye by a peck, lived a few more years, but 2 hawks ganged up on her and decapitated her through a chainlink fence. They are beautiful birds, but I won’t have another crested bird.
Chickens cannot taste the heat in cayenne pepper. I used it in wet feed many times to help prevent worms (it does not work,) and they loved it, especially mixed with garlic. So, the hot pepper will not help prefent pecking.
