Pecking Injury... Did we do the right thing?!

[AlderCreekAK]

Hi all,

New peep parents here!

We have six hens... 3 RIR and 3 EE. This afternoon I came out to one of the EE’s with a bloody back. It’s clear the others were pecking her! I cleaned it up as best I could and sprayed with Vetericyn, and separated into a crate. While I was doing this I noticed that they had started pecking a different hen (another EE), and although she wasn’t bleeding I can tell where this is going! When I take her out too, the remaining four are fine together- relaxing and dust bathing. I don’t readily have a third “quarantine” area so I put the two EE’s (that are apparently at the bottom of the pecking order?) together and they don’t seem interested in pecking each other...

For reference these chicks are about 15 weeks old. I’ve seen the RIRs have just started with some squatting, but they are young & none have produced any eggs as of yet. A couple days ago I also switched them from the starter/grower crumbles to layer pellets (with some crumbles mixed in).

I’m not sure what is causing the sudden stress? and pecking, other than possibly that the old and new crumbles are slightly different? Any insight (and especially reassurance) is welcome!

Thanks for reading!!

 

[sloanbychoice]

In my experience, reds tend to be a bit crabby at times, and EEs are definitely a docile bird.
There should not be bloodshed, however, no matter what the pecking order.
My concern will be after she is healed and you need to reintegrate her. They’ll start up again.
If you have any way of discerning the real bully, I would isolate that one and keep her from staying at the too of the order.

I hope someone has some good advice here!

 

[azygous]

This might help. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chicken-bully-chicken-victim-a-two-sided-issue.73923/

Chickens stress over any changes. The change in feed seems small, but it is a change. Layer is also lower in protein unless you have found one that's at least 18%. You don't have to feed layer, you know, and it's kind of jumping the gun to be feeding it before they start to lay.

Many of us stick with an all-flock feed such as Flock Raiser (20% protein), and we provide oyster shell in small containers around the run for hens to satisfy their individual calcium needs. There is some evidence that low protein feed can contribute to cannibalism.

Paint Blu-kote or Blue Lotion on the wounds. It disguises them and heals. I use a Q-tip since the applicator is for horses.

 

[AlderCreekAK]

This might help. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chicken-bully-chicken-victim-a-two-sided-issue.73923/

Chickens stress over any changes. The change in feed seems small, but it is a change. Layer is also lower in protein unless you have found one that's at least 18%. You don't have to feed layer, you know, and it's kind of jumping the gun to be feeding it before they start to lay.

Many of us stick with an all-flock feed such as Flock Raiser (20% protein), and we provide oyster shell in small containers around the run for hens to satisfy their individual calcium needs. There is some evidence that low protein feed can contribute to cannibalism.

Paint Blu-kote or Blue Lotion on the wounds. It disguises them and heals. I use a Q-tip since the applicator is for horses.

Oooh I did not know this! I like the idea of the raiser with supplemented oyster shell. Thank you. Here’s what I got for them...:

 

[azygous]

That looks like good stuff. Why don't you hold off on feeding that until they all are laying? You can then feed that bag of layer and then decide if you wish to continue or stick with the all-flock feed.

It's a good idea to provide oyster shell even if feeding layer feed since all hens may have different rates of calcium absorption and therefore different calcium needs.

 

[AlderCreekAK]

I have to say... it’s been an unusual and stressful day! This same evening we heard a commotion- I looked out the window to see a fox at the hen house!! We rushed out to find a bloody comb injury on the other girl we had quarantining... We’ll likely be bringing them inside to sleep in the cat crate since the temporary “recovery housing“ we set up is not as secure as their permanent coop + run!

I have to say how grateful I am that I took advice from a post on byc and got a chicken medical kit going...

Thank you for you suggestions about reasons why this pecking might be happening. I hope it’s as simple as a food issue and can be solved!

 

[Shezadandy]

Hi all,

New peep parents here!

We have six hens... 3 RIR and 3 EE. This afternoon I came out to one of the EE’s with a bloody back. It’s clear the others were pecking her! I cleaned it up as best I could and sprayed with Vetericyn, and separated into a crate. While I was doing this I noticed that they had started pecking a different hen (another EE), and although she wasn’t bleeding I can tell where this is going! When I take her out too, the remaining four are fine together- relaxing and dust bathing. I don’t readily have a third “quarantine” area so I put the two EE’s (that are apparently at the bottom of the pecking order?) together and they don’t seem interested in pecking each other...

For reference these chicks are about 15 weeks old. I’ve seen the RIRs have just started with some squatting, but they are young & none have produced any eggs as of yet. A couple days ago I also switched them from the starter/grower crumbles to layer pellets (with some crumbles mixed in).

I’m not sure what is causing the sudden stress? and pecking, other than possibly that the old and new crumbles are slightly different? Any insight (and especially reassurance) is welcome!

Thanks for reading!!

This is NOT a feed issue. I'll tell you exactly what's happened. Your hen is growing her permanent feathers. I've circled the area and pointed to a couple of them.

At this stage they are known as "Blood Feathers" because when feathers grown in for the first time they have a blood supply to grow and then become what you see in a regular feather- hollow and white.

Your other girls have figured out that if you pull a blood feather, you get a tasty bloody treat. Chickens LOVE blood. LOVE it. So, they probably figured this out by accident the first time in routine pecking order activity- and now your sweet little EE is a feast.

The "good" news is that they've pulled the feathers completely out as blood feathers, so they will likely grow back in completely.

Your nursing schedule is exactly right - vetricyn and maybe some antibiotic ointment on the bare skin. She will need to be kept separate until she's done growing the permanent feathers. It will take a while, the best way is to build an adjacent pen of some size where they can see but not touch ... and most importantly - predator proof!!!

The crate you have in there is good- but please please please put hardware cloth (same thing you've got your run done in, nice job!) over that crate - otherwise they will just reach right on in there and keep pulling her blood feathers- and do bring her in at night.

 

[Shezadandy]

Also, like @azygous I do the Flock Raiser 20% with supplemental oyster shell. As long as all your girls are about the same age you'll do fine with the layer food - as you add birds, or someone goes broody and you decide to maybe give her chicks to raise ... or add a rooster ... and then have hens of various ages and laying status running around, the Flock Raiser/oyster shell approach will be more useful. The other way it's useful is if you like to give treats that are low in protein. The minimum protein for a laying hen is 16% (layer food) so if you dilute that will low protein treats, you're lowering their diet below minimum levels. 20% Flock Raiser gives a little more latitude in that department (always with supplemental oyster shell)- because it's 4% higher than their minimum needs.

 

[AlderCreekAK]

This is NOT a feed issue. I'll tell you exactly what's happened. Your hen is growing her permanent feathers. I've circled the area and pointed to a couple of them.

At this stage they are known as "Blood Feathers" because when feathers grown in for the first time they have a blood supply to grow and then become what you see in a regular feather- hollow and white.

Your other girls have figured out that if you pull a blood feather, you get a tasty bloody treat. Chickens LOVE blood. LOVE it. So, they probably figured this out by accident the first time in routine pecking order activity- and now your sweet little EE is a feast.

The "good" news is that they've pulled the feathers completely out as blood feathers, so they will likely grow back in completely.

Your nursing schedule is exactly right - vetricyn and maybe some antibiotic ointment on the bare skin. She will need to be kept separate until she's done growing the permanent feathers. It will take a while, the best way is to build an adjacent pen of some size where they can see but not touch ... and most importantly - predator proof!!!

The crate you have in there is good- but please please please put hardware cloth (same thing you've got your run done in, nice job!) over that crate - otherwise they will just reach right on in there and keep pulling her blood feathers- and do bring her in at night.

View attachment 2253385

Thank you so much for this insight. I was wondering about those little bits of blood inside the feather when I was cleaning the wound! This bird is the oldest one of the flock, so I think it makes sense her adult feathers would come in first, too. My question is... will this start up happening with the rest of the hens in the next few days?! Or is it because this bird is lower in the pecking order that she has been chosen? I also mentioned earlier, but they started pecking the back feathers of another one of the EE’s.

So far thede two injured EE hens don’t seem interested in pecking each other’s feathers/injuries, and the mean girls seem to mostly be the RIR’s. Do you think they’ll be able to get along long term? Or should we consider splitting the flock? Would the addition of a rooster make it better or worse?

Thanks again for all of your help!! There is definitely a bit of a learning curve it seems We are so glad to have found BYC!

 

[Yep I Talk To Chickens]

I jad the smae problem with RIR. When I first got chickens they ended up killing nearly my whole flock.