Omg - Now Feather Picking

[math ace]

Give us the following information. The more you tell us, the better we will be able to help you.

1) What type of bird , age and weight. 16 week old EE

2) What is the behavior, exactly. She is the lowest ranking bird of 17 birds. She is have her feathers picked out at the base of her back / tail.

3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms? 1 week

4) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma. NO - not yet.

5) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
I introduced 2 - 6 month old wyandottes to the flock. The one was extremely aggressive and set everybody on edge. That was 2 weeks ago.
This EE started getting picked on by another EE about a week ago. I took the culprit out and put her in chicken jail.
I figure this was the way the culprit was dealing with the stress of the new birds. Now, the others are starting to pick on my lowest ranking EE too.

The pecking order has been almost re-established.
I don't know if she is last to be picked on because she is at the bottom and this will stop on its own OR if it is just the onset of bigger issues.

The birds have a 8 X 24 run and a 8 X 6 coop. This should not be a over crowding issue.

6) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. Just started on laying mash. Has treats of seedless bird seeds and a little scratch.
We pick weeds from the yard and give them bolting veg from the garden too.

7) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. NORMAL

8) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Isolated the starting culprit.
Today bought some kitten chow to boost her protein intake.
Today is when I noticed that the bald spot looks like it is getting bigger and today is when I noticed the others picking on her to.

9 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? Completely treat by myself.

10) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help. No, but I'll get one if you need it.

11) Describe the housing/bedding in use. Hay - changed out weekly in their coop. They roost at night.

What should I do next - - Isolate her. Use iodine. Use an oitnment? ? There is no sign of infection yet - - - but If it doesn't stop . .. . . .

 

[math ace]

uodate:

I have isolated her and plan to keep her isolated until the feathers grow back. By then the flock should of settled down and maybe she won't get picked on so much. She NEVER has challeneged anybody.

So, I am thinking about 3 weeks from now I can re-introduce her.

Her cage is a 4 x 8 tractor located outside of the main coop / run area.

 

[dawg53]

While having your EE hen seperated, you might want to have her in sight with the others. That might ease the stress level when you reintroduce her, not so being as much as a stranger. Also, I recommend using Rooster Booster (brand name) Black Salve. It comes in a small jar and is black in color,it is an anti pick goop. It looks like axel grease. It's also used to heal minor injuries/abrasions etc...I've used it with success and the hens dont like the taste of it. If I remember correctly,I think I bought it off ebay,not sure though. I tried 'Rooster Booster' Pick No More and that was like candy to them, I dont recommend using that stuff. You just put the goop on the areas where they peck at your EE,usually the head area from my experience.Good luck.

 

[math ace]

Thank you dawg53 , I was hoping somebody would respond with a salve or some medicine recommendation.

She is separated where they can see each other.

I think the pecking order thing has been established - - - but since she was already feather pecked by the other hen - - I think they others are just picking at the damaged area because it is damaged.

I hope once she gets her feather back - - - the transition will go smooth because the others won't be still upset and anxious because of the two bossy ones that joined the flock.

 

[Stonerowfarm]

You might just end up with a chicken like my Ginger. When Ginger was a baby she was aggressive and would bloody the butts of the other little chicks. She is a red sex link. I would separate her and give the others a chance to heal. This went on repeatedly until they went out to the coop with the big girls. When the babies were in the big coop, they were separated from the adults but could see them. Ginger meanwhile was still in chicken jail. I would let her out to socialize when I was with them but as soon as she started the aggressive behavior, she went back into her cage. Fast forward a few weeks and when I put all the chickens together everyone found their ranking in the pecking order, expect Ginger, she became the victim. Even though she was let outside with everyone, young and old alike, she was pecked to the point of being bloody (the tables sure turned). Even now when all the girls free range, they still challenge Ginger. Now she is allowed to free-range while they are in a chicken run during the day. So, you might have to keep this little one separated but close to the rest of the flock for her own safety. I know it has worked wonderfully for me. When everyone free ranges my roo stays with Ginger (his new girlfriend) and makes sure the others don't beat her up. She is happy and safe and the most personable hen I have.

 

[math ace]

It would be sad if I had to keep this one caged all the time to protect her from the others.
I have a large run - - but not FREE RANGE. So, she can either be with the others or in the tractor.

So, I hope once she heals she can join the group, the idea of her having to stay caged for her own safety - FOREVER - seems wrong.

 

[Stonerowfarm]

Oh no.... not caged forever, that would be horrible. If you can't keep her separate like free ranging, try to find another hen who doesn't pick on her and try her in the tractor. When Ginger was problematic my EE was her best buddy. They still are good with each other. With my situation the free-ranging worked because Ginger has the barn to go into, the dog's yard, etc. so she stays safe from the predators. She has some how learned (or it seems this way) that when the hawks come around to go into the barn, and when the dogs up the road bark to go into my dog's fenced yard. It's an odd situation we have but it's been working since last June. She will even go into the goat's room and visit with them. To an outsider she looks like a chicken but inside her little mind she alternates between being a hen who lays beautiful eggs, a goat, a dog and lately a blue jay who eats from the feeders.

 

[math ace]

Awwww, How cute.

Assuming I can not blend her back into the existing flock without her getting picked on everytime,
I wonder ( since she is so non-aggressive), if when I build the next run and coop area for the additional chicks I plan on getting,
if I could put her in there with the chicks when they are smaller than her . . . .

Maybe put them in there when they are about 3 months old.
Normally, That is a little young to mix chicks with older pullets / hens,
but in this case since it will only be her and she is so non- aggressive I wonder if it would work?

If the others grow into adulthood with her being there and bigger - - maybe she won't be the object of picking . . .