[les]

i have three black rocks, one has started pecking the feathers of the other two, and generally bullying them. the bully seems to always go in first at night and the other two seem reluctant to go in now. they are about two years old and this only seems to have started recently. they have just been moved to a new run, and because they are penned all the time i try to keep them occupied, giving them plenty of things to scratch around at. these are my first hens so don't have much experience, can anyone help?! thanks.

[Aunt Sally]

It's quite a problem when hen starts feather pecking.  Unless it can be stopped quickly it becomes very difficult to stop.  One of my hens is a feather pecker so I have tried most of the remedies.

The first thing to try is an anti-peck spray SPR sell them:

http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/spr/page10.html

(just above the pictures of the scoops.  This smells... not too nice and I suppose the hens thing it tastes bad too.  My only worry about this is that the poor hen which is being pecked has nasty tasting feathers to preen  

I eventually (about six months ago) decided to try an anti-peck ring.  I got mine from the domestic Fowl trust

http://www.domesticfowltrust.co.uk/products/Anti_Pecking_Products.html

but they are available from several suppliers.  They work well bu I have to change it every month or so because it wears down.  

I tried peckablocks to keep the hens entertained, but they were totally unimpressed with them  :roll:

Good luck.  Do let us know how things go.  

[les]

thanks for your advice! will try the remedies you suggested. i'll let you know if it works!