One Chicken doing the pecking

[Heather67]

I sat today for about 25 mins in the coop very quiet watching all the chickens to see if I can determine which bird is pecking the others. My Appenzeller is pecking the Polish horribly bad. I put BlueKote on the Polish and the Appenzeller walked right back up and started pecking, I scolded her for it, but i am obviously not able to be in the coop 24/7. Is there anything else I can do> Is this breed more apt to bully?

 

[Abriana]

Polish are considered ornamental birds, and typically they shouldn't be in a mixed flock. Some do well, but due to their cute little head-puffs they tend to get picked. You could get another polish and separate them in their own private space. But make sure it is well protected from predators (especially birds of prey) because it is harder for them to see, and they can't rely on the other birds anymore.

 

[sourland]

Do an on site search on Pin Less Peepers. If it is just this one bird, they may solve your problem. The only other solution would be the removal of one or the other from the flock.

 

[Heather67]

I have 5 Polish and I did cut their tops so they could see better but one Polish has been getting picked on since we got her/him (not sure what sex yet) Now I see another one being pecked at.

 

[Abriana]

I have 5 Polish and I did cut their tops so they could see better but one Polish has been getting picked on since we got her/him (not sure what sex yet) Now I see another one being pecked at.

I would put them in a separate area for a while where they can still see the others but the others can't get to them, and then try reintegrating after a little while. If it doesn't work I would make them their own little Polish Estate.

 

[Mrs. K]

How big is your set up, and how old and how many birds do you have. I went to look at the Appenzeller breeds, as I have never heard of this breed. Very pretty bird.

But it says they are very good foragers and a bit flighty. Those kinds of birds tend to need a bit more room in the run/coop set up. They feel pressured with over crowding.

The reason I asked for the age and number of birds, is I am wondering if what was enough space when they were chicks, is no longer enough space as they reach their full size.

Always solve for the peace of the flock, you may have to separate birds.

Mrs K

 

[chickens really]

What's the protein percentage of the feed?..Lots of reasons for pecking.

 

[aart]

since we got her/him

Was this bird being picked on recently added?

 

[Heather67]

Was this bird being picked on recently added?

no they have all been together since we got them an this one has always been picked on. I put BlueKote on him/her and they pecked worse.

 

[alexa009]

Polishes do not do well with different breeds because of their head puffs which attract other bullies to pick on them. The feathers generally cover their eyes which causes them to be clumsy and unreliable. Try to cut the feathers to a short length to help improve vision and make their head puff unnoticeable. If this has no affect on the bullying behavior, then I would recommend that the Appenzeller be separated for a week until they don't recognize each other. Hopefully, the bully will fall down in the pecking order and the others will be more alert when the she is around.

Good luck.