Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: SusieB on October 23, 2015, 16:19
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One of my ex-batts appears to miss things when she pecks. I'm used to chickens with pinpoint pecking accuracy, that can hover up moving woodlice.
She seems to be getting plenty to eat, because it's hard to miss grass or a bowl full of pellets. But if I put a few bits of rice, for example, in my hand she keeps missing. Again with some slugs, when I moved a large stone, she really couldn't peck them up. It's a bit upsetting to watch.
She looks a little quiet now and then, but mostly appears ok. And somebody is laying wrinkled eggs, probably her.
Does anybody know why can't she peck accurately?
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Can she see?
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Yes her sight seems ok - iIf I hold corn in my hand she goes for I,t but misses and pecks me.
I understand chickens can see different things out of each eye, and their brain can make sense of these two pictures. Not sure whether/why this may have something to do with it.
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Yes her sight seems ok - iIf I hold corn in my hand she goes for I,t but misses and pecks me.
I understand chickens can see different things out of each eye, and their brain can make sense of these two pictures. Not sure whether/why this may have something to do with it.
I had a hen that did this, i got the impression that she was watching my face as she got a beakful of palm and tried to twist it off.
I am sure she did it for fun ! :nowink:
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Is her beak overgrown, hasit been cut back too far, is it lined up? Just thoughts. :)
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Yes! Her beak isn't symmetrical. It's got an extra little bit jutting out. It's not too bad, but it may be the problem. I presume the vet will be able to trim it?
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I don't know. I did think beak clipping per se was not allowed now but cannot be sure of this. It does still go on! I would have thought that as there are welare reasons for sorting it out it may be possible. It would be worth researching whether specialist trimming could sort it out over time in the way a farrier can correct the shape of a horses hoof. It will also depend on whether it is the beak at fault a a fault with the 'jaw bones'. Your vet should be able to help - at a cost! :)