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This is kinda graphic but I need some help!!!

Discussion in 'Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying' started by jrhodes, May 10, 2011.

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  1. May 10, 2011 #1
    jrhodes

    jrhodes Out Of The Brooder

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    All of a sudden by RIR and Buffs are ganging up on my Barred Rocks. They keep pecking at their tail feathers until they start bleeding. They follow them around the pen all day just pecking at them constantly. They have already killed one and they are after the other one. These hens were raised together and have always gotten along. Does anyone know why they are doing this? How can I stop it. I don't really have any way to separate them. Please Help!!!![​IMG]
     
  3. May 10, 2011 #2
    dsqard

    dsqard Crazy "L" Farms

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    Many things can cause feather picking. Too cramped conditions, boredom or not enough protien in their diet. How much room do they have in their pen and coop? Do they ever get to free range? What are you feeding them?
     
  5. May 10, 2011 #3
    drumstick diva

    drumstick diva Still crazy after all these years. Premium Member

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    Try pinless peepers - it helped some lady on a different thread today. Now her birds are no longer attacking her lone silky.
     
  7. May 10, 2011 #4
    Donna5711

    Donna5711 New Egg

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    I have 3 RIR and 3 Buffs, mine started the same thing last fall. It was just after they started laying. I sprayed blu kote on the (2) that were being pick on. (you can get this at TSC) I also sprayed a little on the others so they a had purple feathers and looked the same. The pecking stopped after a couple days. I hope the helps.
     
  9. May 10, 2011 #5
    jrhodes

    jrhodes Out Of The Brooder

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    Nov 14, 2008
    Central Texas
    They free range every afternoon from 3:00 until dark. I am feeding them layer pellets. They also get a little bit of chicken scratch. They have a really big pen so I know they have plenty of rooom. This is just really frustrating.
     
  11. May 10, 2011 #6
    Happy Chooks

    Happy Chooks Moderator Staff Member

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    2nd on the blue kote. I had a hen that was molting and some of the others would not let her tail feathers come back in (she was the last to molt) I got the blue kote, and it kept them from continuing to peck at her and her tail feathers were able to grow in.
     
  13. May 10, 2011 #7
    rungirl

    rungirl Chillin' With My Peeps

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    I agree on the pinless peepers. I had that problem too and the blue cote doesn't stop the picking. The pinless peepers did it.

    Lisa
     
  15. May 10, 2011 #8
    kano

    kano Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Sorry.
     
    Last edited: May 10, 2011
  17. May 10, 2011 #9
    kano

    kano Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Santiago de Chile
    Quote:
     
    Last edited: May 10, 2011
  19. May 10, 2011 #10
    Ceilismom

    Ceilismom Chillin' With My Peeps

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