Please help any suggestions!!!!

[chickadde]

My hen has been mothering her baby chicks for three weeks now. I have her seperated from the other hens & rooster during this time. I took her out of there yesterday so she could get some exercise and one of the other hens started pecking at her. Why is this and they have been together over a year now so they know each other. Is it because we seperated her from all the others? What do I do if anything to keep them from pecking at her while she is out with them?

 

[True Grit]

Yes I think you're right, it's because she was separated and now they have to re-establish the pecking order. They should get it straightened out without too much trouble. If blood is drawn you could put blu-kote on it to keep them from causing further damage.

 

[sourland]

Any time a chicken is removed from the flock it has to re establish its position in the pecking order. It's just the way it is in chicken psychology.

 

[True Grit]

I tried to re-introduce my recuperating chicken and after only 4 days apart they vicously attacked her so I put her in the run and left them out to freerange until bedtime. They just kept circling the run like predator chickens. Then I did it again this evening and when I went out to bring her back in I took them some meal worms and let herand the other 3 eat the mealworms together and they were fine. I'm going to do it one more time tomorrow evening and then put her on the roost with them at night and keep my fingers crossed. I couldn't believe how mean my normally benevolent head hen was when I first added her back in to the flock, grabbing her by the neck and comb and clawing her back - very scary.

 

[Anianna]

Quote:
I'm not a vet and I have never used blu-kote, but the drug info for it says not to use on food-producing animals or on cats (presumably because they lick themselves fastidiously). It also says to prevent dogs from licking it. My concern is that chickens preen themselves in much the same way as cats clean themselves and you can't prevent a chicken from picking at itself. I would be hesitant to use blu-kote on my chickens, particularly any that might be raised for meat or even egg production.

http://www.drugs.com/vet/dr-naylor-blu-kote.html

Dr. Naylor Blu-Kote Caution(s)
For external veterinary use only. In case of serious burns, deep or puncture wounds, or if redness, irritation or swelling persists or increases, discontinue use and consult a veterinarian. Keep away from the eyes, mouth, nostrils, and mucous membranes. Do not spray in the eyes. Do not inhale. Do not use on cats. Prevent dogs from licking the treated area.

For animal use only.

Keep from the reach of children.

Use only as directed.

Warning(s)
Not for use on food producing animals.​

 

[True Grit]

Interesting, Blu-kote was recommended in my chicken seminar class. I actually use Rooster Booster Pic no more solution rather than blu-kote but I don't like to put it on a wound as it appears to hurt the chicken.

 

[DelcoChix]

Quote:
I'm not a vet and I have never used blu-kote, but the drug info for it says not to use on food-producing animals or on cats (presumably because they lick themselves fastidiously). It also says to prevent dogs from licking it. My concern is that chickens preen themselves in much the same way as cats clean themselves and you can't prevent a chicken from picking at itself. I would be hesitant to use blu-kote on my chickens, particularly any that might be raised for meat or even egg production.

http://www.drugs.com/vet/dr-naylor-blu-kote.html

Dr. Naylor Blu-Kote Caution(s)
For external veterinary use only. In case of serious burns, deep or puncture wounds, or if redness, irritation or swelling persists or increases, discontinue use and consult a veterinarian. Keep away from the eyes, mouth, nostrils, and mucous membranes. Do not spray in the eyes. Do not inhale. Do not use on cats. Prevent dogs from licking the treated area.

For animal use only.

Keep from the reach of children.

Use only as directed.

Warning(s)
Not for use on food producing animals.
​

I think the reference to "food producing animals" is for animals that are to be eaten....I've used blu-kote on mine when they have been the victims of their feather-plucking coopmates and have had no issues related to using it, except for some purple marks on the eggs. And mine had no feathers to preen (hence the blu-kote) so their consuming it also wasn't an issue. I believe the main reason for using it is to cover up the red, sore spots that are so attractive to the mean girls...more like camoflage.