Polish head getting pecked

[Kathys Coop]

I have four Polish chicks in with 23 other chicks. They are five weeks old and I seem to be having problems only with the 2 white crested black polish hair on their head getting pecked. The two golden polish don’t seem to have that problem. I have been using the no peck spray and put it on their heads a few times a day but not sure it’s really working. I was trying to avoid separating them because when I reintroduce them chances will do it again. Any suggestions?

 

[Fishkeeper]

Could you disguise the white somehow, if that's possibly the issue?
Blu kote normally won't stop feather picking, but may be worth a try in this case. Apply enough to turn the feathers blue instead of white, and maybe they'll lose interest in it. Or you could try bundling up the crests like people do- they'd probably appreciate having it out of their eyes.

 

[llombardo]

I was warned of this when I got my polish. I got two in a group of 8, they are find together. My two older girls will defintely peck and the 4 next older girls have a 50% chance of pecking, so I will most likely keep them seperated.

 

[HenHouse4Life]

Unfortunately polish are an easy pecking target and 23 against 4 aren't great odds for the polish. They ideally should be kept in a flock with only other polish. I know just a handful of people who have success mixing them in a flock. If the pecking continues the other chicks can do serious damage to your polish and it can be fatal.

 

[Chicka_deee]

I almost posted a thread on this as well!
I have the same problem with my white crested blue polish that is 9 weeks old tomorrow. I have another polish, (don’t know what kind) and has a brown crest (my profile pic) she/he isn’t getting picked on, I just see my silver Laced Wyandotte digging into his crest... it looks painful and is all bloody, and has lost feathers and is a big bald spot.
I kinda need help as well

 

[Fishkeeper]

You need to separate them and keep them apart. Wyandottes are mean, polish are extremely vulnerable to bullies, and can be killed if pecked hard on the head.

 

[chickens really]

Birds of a feather flock together. Definitely might have to separate them.

 

[Kathys Coop]

Update- I bought a no peck spray at Tractor Supply and have been using it on their heads since i posted this thread and I am actually seeing some hair growing back in the area where they were pecked. We’ll have to see how it goes and I will continue to watch them.

 

[dct10]

I feel your pain...or more accurately, your White Crested Black Polish's pain. McMurray's threw in a free rare with our order last June. Ours was a WCBP roo. Everything was wonderful until his crest feathers became amazing and beautiful. It started slowly. The Ameraucana hens really dig him and would gently preen his head feathers. He seemed to like it so I thought it was cute. Over time it became plucking and once that happens, we all know it only gets worse. They had nearly all head feathers yanked out of his head or broken off at the shaft. That makes blood which triggers a gang beatdown. I seperated him and kept him in his own side coop/pen for several weeks until his feathers were completely grown back in. I re-introduced him into the flock and all seemd good for several hours. I went out at dusk to put them all to bed and he was completely bald and bloody. I felt terrible. So now he is living in our laundry room and trying to figure out what to do. Has anyone else who had this problem noted it was certain breeds who focus on the polish for picking? It seemd to only be the Ameraucanas. They're a bit too curious for their own good.

 

[Therese Brown]

I feel your pain...or more accurately, your White Crested Black Polish's pain. McMurray's threw in a free rare with our order last June. Ours was a WCBP roo. Everything was wonderful until his crest feathers became amazing and beautiful. It started slowly. The Ameraucana hens really dig him and would gently preen his head feathers. He seemed to like it so I thought it was cute. Over time it became plucking and once that happens, we all know it only gets worse. They had nearly all head feathers yanked out of his head or broken off at the shaft. That makes blood which triggers a gang beatdown. I seperated him and kept him in his own side coop/pen for several weeks until his feathers were completely grown back in. I re-introduced him into the flock and all seemd good for several hours. I went out at dusk to put them all to bed and he was completely bald and bloody. I felt terrible. So now he is living in our laundry room and trying to figure out what to do. Has anyone else who had this problem noted it was certain breeds who focus on the polish for picking? It seemd to only be the Ameraucanas. They're a bit too curious for their own good.

I'm having this problem now. Did u ever get a resolution for this