They've pecked her bald, I think I have to re-home her - how??

[RyRy2]

I've posted before about my Polish hen being pecked, well they did it again.. I've been keeping stuff on her head in hopes that once the feathers grew back, it would be long enough that they would be out of the habit and leave her alone.. They were really looking good and starting to fill out, were finally abt 1 1/2 inches long so I've been busy and nobody has bothered her in weeks, and the last few days I skipped the balm for her head. this morning I went down and when she came up for breakfast I saw what a mess her poor head was. Thank goodness I got there when I did, they hadn't really drawn blood quite yet, but they yanked every feather on the top and back of her head out by the root, her head is just a mass of swelling and little holes... I can't do this, if I knew who the instigator was I would get rid of them instead, but I don't.. I don't have the facilities to keep her separated and would be devastated if I went down one day to find they had finally killed her (I know they will go nuts if they draw blood and just keep pecking). So as much as I will miss her, I think the best thing is to re-home her to either a "Polish Only" home, or a "house chicken" home. But how do I do that.. do I charge something for her, give her away or what? any ideas or direction would be greatly appreciated.

She is a 13 week old (hatch date 3/11/11) Gold Laced Polish from McMurray Hatchery and very sweet..

 

[equine chick]

Any way you can keep her separated from the others. You only need a small pen to house her or keep her as a house chicken.

 

[Taylorhens]

I wish I had an answer for you. My buff orpingtons are doing the same thing to my Polish chicks (they're all in the 4-6 week old range). I only have 2 BO's and it's probably only one of them doing it, but the problem is I can't tell them apart so I'm trying to sell them both. I've had to separate three of the four Polish in the meantime. The BOs are just obsessed with those big crests. I thought it was because they were still in a (large) brooder since my grow out pen is occupied until this weekend. I was hoping when I they could get out into the much bigger pen it wouldn't be a problem--assuming I haven't sold the BOs yet. Now reading your post, I'm not so sure.

Poor little bald Polishes...

 

[RyRy2]

my chickens free-range and when I tried putting her in a dog crate where she could see the other chickens but not get hurt, she went nuts, didn't eat or drink and was very unhappy.. My little terrier mix would kill her if given the chance (the reason she NEVER goes to the barn or sees the chickens), so keeping her in the house myself wouldn't work. I love her, she is such a sweetheart, but I want her to be safe and happy, more than I want to keep her for myself.

 

[RyRy2]

here's what they did to her...

 

[teach1rusl]

I would offer her for free or maybe $5 to someone who keeps silkies, polish, or similarly mild mannered breeds, and explain WHY you are rehoming her, so that someone who mostly keeps standard type birds won't ask for her. Poor little thing

 

[Lovable Chicks]

Wish I was a bit closer... she could live with my silkies. Sorry they R doing this to her.