Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: carolena on February 03, 2012, 15:20
-
Hi everyone.
After 18 months together all of a sudden my chickens are pecking each other, I sprayed with anti pecking formula from pet shop, but not stopped them, now they seem to have picked on one chicken and she is bleeding and featherless on the rear and back, any remedies would be great.
Have separated during the day, but only have one hen house for nightimes.
Thanks
Carolena
-
For all three to start feather pecking at the same time it is likely to be one or two things...
First of all check under feathers, especially near the vent and under the wings for unwanted visitors. Lice and mites can be a major source of feather pecking as the hens over preen, or attempt to eat the lice on their neighbours.
This can usually be sorted out with a topical flea spot on (kitten strength).
Or, theoy could be lacking protein in their diet. This can cause feather eating, and the easiest way to get feathers is to pick them off your nearest neighbour. to Increase protein in the diet, you can
1) feed chick crumbs or growers pellets for a few weeks (feeding for a short time shouldnt' affect calcium levels too much.)
2) add some ground soy beans to the layers pellets
3) add a handful of mealworms to the layers pellets
or
4) feed a non poultry wet catfood tin/pouch a couple of times a week.
For the hen which has bare patches, you will need to isolate her, or spray her bare bits with pruple spray (gentian violet) which will stop the hens further aggravating her sore spots.
Good luck :)