Pecking - becoming a habit?

[Bantamkirkbride]

Hi

I have 2 sablepoots, 2 lavender araucanas and 2 cuckoo Marans (all bantams) who have lived together happily for two months until a couple of days ago. The two cuckoos and one araucanas attached the other Araucana and pecked a big bloody spot over an inch round when her tail meets the back. I separated the injured one and the cuckoos then pecked some tail feathers from the other Araucana. The cuckoos have been separated too now so I have 3 lots of bantams.

I am a bit worried this will become a serious habit and they may kill one another? I'm especially anxious about my little sablepoots as they are smaller, though as yet unaffected by being pecked or pecking others (they couldn't reach the spot).

I think I have identified the main problem as boredom as there wasn't enough things in the main run and have added some but I'm nervous to let the cuckoos back in.

Any idea on what to do would be most welcome. My mum thinks we should cull the cuckoos as they immediately appeared to start of the other Araucana.

Thanks

 

[azygous]

Describe your run or where the chickens spend the day. How large is it?

What do you feed the birds? What percentage is protein?

Have you heard of pinless peepers? Sometimes that can control a feather picker, cutting out her forward vision.

 

[-Isla June-]

Hi

I have 2 sablepoots, 2 lavender araucanas and 2 cuckoo Marans (all bantams) who have lived together happily for two months until a couple of days ago. The two cuckoos and one araucanas attached the other Araucana and pecked a big bloody spot over an inch round when her tail meets the back. I separated the injured one and the cuckoos then pecked some tail feathers from the other Araucana. The cuckoos have been separated too now so I have 3 lots of bantams.

I am a bit worried this will become a serious habit and they may kill one another? I'm especially anxious about my little sablepoots as they are smaller, though as yet unaffected by being pecked or pecking others (they couldn't reach the spot).

I think I have identified the main problem as boredom as there wasn't enough things in the main run and have added some but I'm nervous to let the cuckoos back in.

Any idea on what to do would be most welcome. My mum thinks we should cull the cuckoos as they immediately appeared to start of the other Araucana.

Thanks

This same exact thing literally happened to me... My chickens attacked my bantam and Araucana. I don't know why they are so rude to them. Make sure to get the blood off of the Araucana because chickens are attracted to blood. I recommend treating the bare, bloody spot. My chickens are still attacking the two hens and we have already had one die. I feel like I am out of options since I have added new things into the run for boredom. I am so sorry, and I don't know how to help since I need help to.

 

[Bantamkirkbride]

Describe your run or where the chickens spend the day. How large is it?

What do you feed the birds? What percentage is protein?

Have you heard of pinless peepers? Sometimes that can control a feather picker, cutting out her forward vision.

Hi Azygous

They spend the day inside a wire run 5m x 6m with a coop with three nesting boxes inside.

The front portion of the run is paved so there is a clean spot for water and food as this was getting very mucky. It was pretty bare inside but I've now added two little (dead) Christmas trees, some old mossy logs, some twisted branches that make a couple of raised perches and a big clump of hay for them to dig through. I shut them in the coop at night. My mum used to keep chickens and didn't think they needed entertainment and im a beginner so im not sure how far to go with it now I've started. There will also shortly be a sand pit which hasn't arrived yet. This was all added after the incident.

I have been feeding them basic layers pellets, mixed with a little corn. They weren't keen to eat the pellets but found them far more interesting once there was some corn to find. They have free access to this grit which is small but so are the little sablepoots https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07D71SB3H/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks

 

[Bantamkirkbride]

This same exact thing literally happened to me... My chickens attacked my bantam and Araucana. I don't know why they are so rude to them. Make sure to get the blood off of the Araucana because chickens are attracted to blood. I recommend treating the bare, bloody spot. My chickens are still attacking the two hens and we have already had one die. I feel like I am out of options since I have added new things into the run for boredom. I am so sorry, and I don't know how to help since I need help to.

Hi Everly

I'm sorry you're having the same issue, and you already lost one. I really don't want to lose any of mine. Thanks for your advice on the wound. Just after it happened I treated the wound and separated the injured Araucana bantam so the other can't get to her.

Hopefully someone will be able to share some ideas to help us both.

 

[-Isla June-]

Hi Everly

I'm sorry you're having the same issue, and you already lost one. I really don't want to lose any of mine. Thanks for your advice on the wound. Just after it happened I treated the wound and separated the injured Araucana bantam so the other can't get to her.

Hopefully someone will be able to share some ideas to help us both.

yes, hopefully! I am just praying this one makes it.

 

[azygous]

Are you in Europe? What percentage protein is in the layer feed? If it's not 18% or more, try feeding some protein such as fish or eggs or ground beef a couple times a week to rule out protein deficiency.

As far as entertainment, chickens absolutely do love entertainment. I even have a swing in my run that is very popular with the younger ones. A fat carrot or cabbage with an eye screw inserted into the core and hung like a tether ball is also extremely popular and provides entertainment for hours.

 

[-Isla June-]

Are you in Europe? What percentage protein is in the layer feed? If it's not 18% or more, try feeding some protein such as fish or eggs or ground beef a couple times a week to rule out protein deficiency.

As far as entertainment, chickens absolutely do love entertainment. I even have a swing in my run that is very popular with the younger ones. A fat carrot or cabbage with an eye screw inserted into the core and hung like a tether ball is also extremely popular and provides entertainment for hours.

Europe?

 

[Bantamkirkbride]

Are you in Europe? What percentage protein is in the layer feed? If it's not 18% or more, try feeding some protein such as fish or eggs or ground beef a couple times a week to rule out protein deficiency.

As far as entertainment, chickens absolutely do love entertainment. I even have a swing in my run that is very popular with the younger ones. A fat carrot or cabbage with an eye screw inserted into the core and hung like a tether ball is also extremely popular and provides entertainment for hours.

Hi Azygous

Yes, based in the UK.

Thank you for the advice. I have this feed which I see is only 16% protein. http://www.fancyfeedcompany.co.uk/products/layers_pellets.htm

I've let the two marans back into the main run now that I made it more interesting and have time to observe them all. Just one is pecking the Araucana. She is sneaking up behind the Araucana and pecking at the base of the tail feathers. The Araucana is responding by posturing over the Maran almost sitting on her, but this doesn't seem to be a deterrent. Do you think the Maran is just being a bully? I am wondering if separating her for a few days and reintroducing her to the pecking order might help.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[azygous]

Yes, some individuals can be terrible bullies. I have one. She is in a perpetual lousy mood and pecks any other chickens who so much as passes too close to her beak.

I've used pinless peepers in the past with pretty good luck, and I also have a rehab program for bully victims to restore their self confidence so they start standing up for themselves. Here's the plan. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chicken-bully-chicken-victim-a-two-sided-issue.73923/