The Poultry Keeper

Alfietinker · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 82 Location: Southminster, Essex

We'd be grateful for some advice (I hope this is the correct section of the forum).

We got our first chooks - 3 pullets, unknown breeds last Sunday. They had previously lived in a pen with about 15 other different age girls so were used to being together.

They seem to be happy enough in their new home - a large 8 x 10 foot run. They are all laying everyday and don't seem stressed.

For the first couple of days Daisy would have a peck at Florence and occasionally Esmarelda too - both on the neck. We put this down to establishing a new pecking order and Daisy is definitely the top chicken!

However, today we noticed Florence has a bare bottom - it looks like the feathers have been pulled out. We've seen Daisy keep having a peck at the area but not actually pulling the feathers - and we can't find any of the said feathers on the floor. Florence still seems OK and not in pain, and often ignores Daisy unless Daisy wants her out the way of the food. Esmarelda also seems to be getting a peck and looks like she's lost a couple of feathers from her bottom too.

We've seen Daisy actually look at the others and then lunge forward for a peck - even when the others are nowhere near her. Is this still establishing a hierarchy or should we now intervene?

I've bought a pecking block which Daisy is fascinated by and will be getting another as she is hogging it, but she still pecks Florence.

I put food in 3 places around the run but this hasn't made a difference.

Any ideas on what else we could do?

We can isolate her in the run during the day but we can't separate them inside the coop at night. We also both work full time so can't supervise them for much of the day.

Any help very much appreciated!!!

richard · Joined: 14 Oct 2005 Posts: 258 Location: somerset

Can't help but I'd be interested in any replies as one of my black rocks had the same problem. feathers seem to be growing back slowly now but it seems strange that it was only around the bottom.

mojo · Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 8:52 pm Post subject:

the answer you may not like is........chickens peck other chickens........but usually only till they settle the rankings........sometimes you get a feather puller.....this you can treat by painting affected areas with stockholm tar(a gooey black stuff)........or use a shop anti pecking powder.....or hang greenstuff up to take her mind off pecking.....but watch carefully i hope by the end of the week they have sorted themselves out.............mojo

Alfietinker · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 82 Location: Southminster, Essex

I like any answer! Wink

We're complete novices you see and we'd hate to think they're suffering needlessly if there's something we should be doing.

We've hung the pecking block up, and I'll do what you say and put some greens etc in there. We're going to put some 'furniture' in there as well so they have some more interest.

So I guess, unless it gets really bad and starts bleeding etc, we should just leave alone and let them get on with it?

If it seems to be getting worse, do we need to think about separating Daisy for a day?

Thanks!!!

I was reading a similar thread on here and they mention putting ACV in the water - should I start doing this? I could find any ACV at an animal feed centre I went to although they did have 'chicken tonic'.

Knobby · Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 9:22 pm Post subject:

My Orpington has had all of his neck feathers pulled out today by his girlfriends............. Crying or Very sad

he doesnt look a pretty sight......but as always they will stop doing it, and the feathers will grow back..........good luck !!!

mojo · Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 9:26 pm Post subject:

at .here goes mojo again.........ACV is given at2% in water 1 week in4 in PLASTIC water pots.........its a all round tonic....the cloudy unfiltered is best .try health food shop.or horse feed shop........its good for humans arthritis too........you can also buy a gentian violet antiseptic spray .WEAR RUBBER GLOVES as it stains skin a delicate purple colour which takes ages to wearoff........good luck.....remember there are no silly questions only silly answers so keep asking

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

Whilst your in the feed centre you might like to pick up some gentian violet spray. If Daisy actually pulls feathers out until there is blood ~ she will continue to peck mercilessly. Chickens have a very strong attraction to the colour red. If you spray the poor chickens who are being pecked it would also act an an antiseptic. The use of the anti peck spray is another idea, here's a link for it on line
http://www.domesticfowltrust.co.uk/health2.html

ACV is a very good tonic for chickens and I believe be given regularly to help their systems function really well. 2% ~ 20mls to 1 litre one week a month. Maybe Daisy is a little short in calcium, if she is actually eating the feathers ~ the ACV would help her too. Cloudy is best ~ you can get it on line from but it is expensive from here
http://www.highernature.co.uk/cgi-bin/HN.storefront/EN/
Apparently you get it from horsey supply places.

Let us know how it goes

Alfietinker · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 82 Location: Southminster, Essex

Thank you both so much! At least we don't have to isolate Daisy.

I'll get some ACV and geneitan violet on Monday - there's another feed shop so I'll try there before online. I've read about them being attracted to blood which is why I was concerned that Daisy would start a vicious circle - and Florence would suffer - and we'd be bad 'parents'....... Rolling Eyes

Yes, I am a worrier Laughing

I'll start the ACV straight away - I assume everyday for the 1 week in 4?

I have a plastic drinker so we're OK there (I need to get another one too as I didn't realise they drink so much)

I'll let you know how it goes Smile

Spana · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 2299 Location: North Cornwall

Is the feather puller eating the feathers. I've seen them do that. They pull a feather out of another chook, lay it on the ground and down it, quill first.

Perhaps thats whats happened to the missing feathers.

Alfietinker · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 82 Location: Southminster, Essex

Hi Jan,

That may be a possibility but I can't be sure as we've not seen her actually pulling a feather out - just having a quick lunge at the area. We will be watching very closely today.

fenwoman · Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 9:21 pm Post subject:

Lisa · Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 1:11 am Post subject:

Given you've only recently go them, I would think it is most likely due to them settling in their new home and their new grouping. Although they did live with each other before, that was in a much larger group. They are now in a little group on their own and the dynamics will have changed...

Give them loads of other things to keep them occupied eg something to peck at, scratch in, dust bathe in, jump on etc. And more than one food and water bowl which are not close to each other. Then with a bit of time it is likely to settle down.

While feather pecking and/or eating can be due nutritional deficiencies (I've also heard a lack of protein mentioned before, and was told it was due to a lack of phosphorous by an avian vet once), if they're on a balanced layers pellet or mash, or some other sort of balanced diet appropriate for laying hens, then I would think this unlikely.

Alfietinker · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 82 Location: Southminster, Essex

Thanks everyone. Smile

Well, Florence and Esmarelda both have nice purple bottoms now! I've put their first dose of ACV in the water today (I managed to buy 5 litres for £10.95 of cloudy, unfiltered at an animal feed centre - should last for ages!)

I gave them some radish tops which went down really well and will be installing a dust bath this evening. The run will soon be turned into a chicken theme park Laughing

We've been a little wary of giving them too many treats so they don't get too fat but we're going to start introducing a few occasionally - I hear porridge and yoghurt go down well occasionally. At the moment they have layers pellets both in a feeder and scattered about - when they've scratched for all the pellets on the floor they go for the feeder. I did try putting 3 plates of pellets around but they seemed to prefer throwing the plates away and eating from the floor - so be it Smile

Then as soon as we get home they get a handful of corn scattered about.

We actually saw Daisy pulling a feather on Sunday and she doesn't appear to be eating them. The strange thing is, they were both sitting next to each other and Florence was letting Daisy peck her. I would have thought she would have moved but she didn't seem at all bothered Confused

Last night it didn't look like the 'pecked' area was any worse so fingers' crossed.

nigel · Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 10:32 am Post subject:

Alfietinker · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 82 Location: Southminster, Essex

I am wary of rats/mice and didn't originally want to scatter any food about but they do seem to like it. Smile

Each night when they've gone to bed I kick about the straw and if I see lots of pellets on the ground I sweep them up - I haven't seen too much so far. I also take the feeder and drinker inside at night and wash them up. Hopefully that will deter rodents etc.