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Pecking

Discussion in 'Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying' started by AngryRooster, Dec 23, 2012.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Dec 23, 2012 #1
    AngryRooster

    AngryRooster Out Of The Brooder

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    Jan 29, 2012
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    Help please! My RIR (Rhode Island Red) is pecking my other hens and I tried the anti peck lotion that you buy at the store. it seemed to work for a while but now I don't know what to do as the lotion no linger works.
     
  3. Dec 23, 2012 #2
    citychickx6

    citychickx6 Chillin' With My Peeps

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    May 14, 2011
    Loveland
    Just pecking or eating the feathers as well?
    If she is eating the feathers try upping the protein in the diet.
    You can try giving them something else to do as well. I saw on here where someone made treat sticks for lack of a better description using corn cobs, peanut butter and hen scratch. They smeared the peanut butter on the cob and then rolled in scratch. Hanging it keeps it off the ground and gives them something else to focus on.

    Is she the top hen? Perhaps a couple days away from the others may help.

    I am certain many other ideas will surface for you as well.
     
  5. Dec 24, 2012 #3
    azygous

    azygous Chicken Obsessed

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    Dec 11, 2009
    Colorado Rockies
    Yes, please give us more info. Is the rooster just nailing them on the head with warnings? Or is he drilling them with his beak, drawing blood and removing chunks of flesh?

    If he's systematically shaving the hens of their feathers, actually eating them, leaving them with vast bald patches on their bodies, then you have a feather-picker. See my thread https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/697052/i-think-i-found-a-miracle-cure-for-feather-picking which has a very thorough discussion of this problem and ways to approach it.
     

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