[Debsie]

I noticed today that my grey speckled hen has a few feathers missing from her back down near her tail end. The area looks a bit red and sore and I caught one of the others pecking at her. My husband did notice the one doing the pecking with a feather in her beak earlier today. I picked her up and the area looks dry but it is red and sore looking as I said. She is eating and drinking ok and demanding her kale still. She has been pacing up and down the run today, I thought it was because she can see the kale plants but could it be because she wants to get away from being bullied? Any advice please.
1. what can or should I do to help injured hen recover
2. what can I do to prevent the others pecking her.

[Aidy]

I would say first keep an eye on it to see if its just a now and then pecking order thing or it is getting nasty, put anti pecking spray on as well.
Have they got things to keep them occupied in the run? It may be boredom. Try also putting kale in several places so it is less competive.
I have one who gets the occasinal pecking, but it tends to be just a pecking order thing when she steps out of line.

[Debsie]

Thanks Aidy, I won't rush off to the vet just yet then,what is anti-pecking spray please.

Good idea about kale in different places and normally hang up one bunch. They have logs in the run and a covered dust bath that they like to perch on. Any suggestions for other entertainment?!

[orchardlady]

I think that like Aidy mentioned you need to introduce some more interest into their environment. You could also add a few buckets on their sides to offer a little escape place for her to go. There are such things as chicken spectacles that are little plastic rings that are placed around the beak. It enables the hen to eat but not peck in a bulling manner. I have never used them but I'm certain I've read other peoples comments here. They might be worth a go.

[daisy1990]

hens are attracted to the red colour in blood so anti peck spray is a purple die which puts the hens of pecking again, there are various commercial makes (some people call it purple spray) available from agricultural stores and on line (Johnsons make it) it is worth having some in just in case (I sprayed my quail's head when she hit it on the roof of her pen)

We also have a metal ball which hangs from the run roof, which can be filled with greens for the hens to peck at (designed for rabbits!)

[chickadizzle]

my girls philip and ginger (not betty any more as she is no longer with us) have been pecking alice and speckeldy jim the 2 new girls (excuse the names 10 yr old bro and blackadder fan bf) it seems to be wearing off but i read also that if you spray them with a vineger mixture it is meant to make them all smell the same my girls arent too bad so i havent done it but thought it may help also i got and old pop up tunnel from work a nursery lol and the newbies looooove it they are always in there
good luck

[alancane]

Hi Debsie,

It's oftemn called purple spray - you can get it over the industrial estate at the place opposite Macdonalds. Private message me if you need further details 

[PaulineM]

Hi
I don't want to sound argumentative but I think anti-pecking spray and purple spray are two different products.
Anti-pecking spray taste awful so the other hens wont peck at your girl as much.
Purple spray is an antiseptic spray which because of its colour will mask any redness which can attract more pecks.
I have used the anti-pecking spray when things got a bit out of hand when I got my girls at first and it worked a treat, I have also today just let my 2 new girls mix and I used the anti-pecking again just to hopefully reduce the pecking which is only to be expected.

[alancane]

You right Pauline, they are two different things but both will work. Debise you should be able to get both over the place I meant.

[Sassy]

The advice in a chicken book if you can identify the bully is to take the bully away but keep it in plain sight of the run for a week or so and then put it back in with the others. It will go back in at the bottom of the pecking order and this may solve the problem. How long have had all the chookd to gether? If you have recent introductions they may just be sorting themselves out. Good luck