The Poultry Keeper

alison · Joined: 07 Nov 2005 Posts: 28 Location: whitstable, kent

Can anyone help me? I have seen a message where someone has mentioned this product but cant seem to find it anywhere, if someone out there can let me know of a supplier I would be really grateful as two of my hens have completely bald heads and we have tried everything else from splitting them from the aggressors to anti-peck spray, I feel that if this doesn't work we will have to find them a new home which is the last thing I want to do. I would be most grateful for any advice. Thank you

Lisa · Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2006 1:29 pm Post subject:

I'd be very wary of spraying anything on their heads incase it gets in their eyes or ears - its not as if you can ask them to close their eyes while you do it... Confused

Can I just check - when you said you tried separating them, did you remove the ones that have been pecked, or the ones that do the pecking?

alison · Joined: 07 Nov 2005 Posts: 28 Location: whitstable, kent

I separated the aggressive hen for nearly a fortnight and she was OK for a short while and then she went back to pecking, she has drawn blood on one occasion and we have used gention violet spray consistently but they still get pecked and now look terrible their heads are completely bald and although the skin looks OK I'm concerned as the pecking is going further down their backs.

Lisa · Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2006 2:39 pm Post subject:

Try Google – it comes up with various online suppliers. Or it seems like lots of horsey places sell it, if you have somewhere like that local to you?

Though AFAIK it works on the principle of making the bird taste nasty and disguising the colour if the skin it broken and bloody. And as you’ve already tried things like that (the anti-peck spray and the purple spray) I'd be surprised if the Stockholm tar spray would work any better or different...

I wonder if it would be worth isolating the bully again? From what you've said you had a little success with that when you tried it. Maybe if she was away for longer, she'd be even less inclined to peck when she goes back in?

Have you watched them to see when the bullying takes place ie could it happen at any time, or is there something that triggers it, like being around food? I had a bad case of feather pecking with my first 4 birds. Putting out several feeders and drinkers certainly lessened the pecking.

Hope you find something that works for you and your hens - chickens can be so vicious with each other sometimes and its horrible to see Sad

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7367 Location: isle of lewis

would one of those anti pecking bits help .
just wondering
Confused

suz

coco · Joined: 24 Jan 2006 Posts: 319 Location: Northants

In haste - off to collect car from garage!

Terry Beebe sells (or used to) cans of aerosol stockholm tar. Wouldn't advise spraying heads, but you could try spraying the product into an eggcup - or similar sized vessel - and the applying with a small paintbrush.

Cheers,

Colin

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

I'm with Lisa on this, I don't think I'd want to spray near their faces, ears etc.

I think the idea of the beak bits for the offending girl might be the way to go. You could paint the other girls as well, but once the offender had the bits on she shouldn't be able to re-offend

alison · Joined: 07 Nov 2005 Posts: 28 Location: whitstable, kent

thanks everyone for your good advice, I think you are right and the beak bit is the way to go. I must admit that the stockholm tar was a last resort as I've heard some not so very nice things about it but couldn't think of anything else. The strange thing is that when the bully was put into isolation the two 'bullees' kept trying to get in with them and they seemed to fret all the time they were apart, still I knew this wouldn't be as easy as the books make you think. (lucky its rewarding when they all seem to gel together, in our case that's not very often). Thanks again

Nursie · Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Posts: 162

Alison, I had a hen who started bullying the others quite recently. I posted on here about it and got lots of good advice - one such piece was to try her with a cockerel to show her that she is NOT the boss!

I don't have a cockerel, but my friend does, so I packed her bags and sent her to be 'hen pecked' for a few days and I am pleased to report she is now on her best behaviour and none the worst for it herself!

It may be worth trying with your trouble maker if you have access to a cockerel!

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

Nursie, you might also have a hen producing fertile eggs ~ if you're interested

Nursie · Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Posts: 162

Doh!!

Actually, as much as I love my ladies, I really don't want babies!! I've another 15 Black Rocks coming in August so don't have the room!!