Posted by Jeanette on September 20, 2010 at 4:21pm
I got home from work, checked in on the chicks in their new coop (day 2) and the slightly smaller one is getting pecked from one of the others. What do I do about that? They are not like dogs, where I can clap my hands and say-- hey, quit that. They have been with each other since we brought them home. I just noticed some peck spots on the white colored one, it seems like just the one other hen giving her some pecks. I am not seeing noticeable blood but there are feathers missing and pink skin at the backof the neck and on the back right above the tail.
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Each hen is a different type of bird. It may be the stress of being in a coop and having the heat. I have two watering stations, will try two feeding stations. Mmmm, I think I will SKIP going to the gym right now and go get some Rooster Booster.
I bought some blue stuff and then some spray, Hen Pick or something because Pratts did not have the Rooster Booster. So, now I have a chick that we should rename Cyndi Lauper as she is purple splotchy and so are my hands because although I HAD gloves, I did not put them on. By the time I got home, she was even more picked at and I have been sitting with them watching for about a half hour. No one is picking at anyone right now.
Jeanette,
I had a similar problem with my hens. The Hot Picks didn't work when I tried it. I ended up giving all the girls lots more space to move around. Things got better for a while, but it was much better when I brought in 2 new pullets to distract the hens from picking on the little one. This is the only thing that worked.
I sprayed them all 2x yesterday with it. They went from being contained inside to a pretty good sized coop. I don't think I can put anymore in there. I have 4 in a coop that's 4'Wx6 'Lx5'H. I'm going to go check on them when it is light out. If the smaller one is still getting pecked then I guess our best bet would be to have the one that is the main bully (the one that looks like a sparrow) removed. When I had the smaller white one out yesterday (to dry from the blue spray), then the sparrow one started pecking on a different one. Then, what do I do with her? This is chicken drama. Way worse than kids...dogs are much easier. I'm having chicken angst.
I completely understand the feeling!! I was seriously yelling at my chickens one day to stop and behave. If you have a dog crate, or something similar, you can put the aggressive chicken in it for a few days. That way, she's still in the coop only she can't interact with the other girls. She'll HATE it, but it might help.
Well, it just seemed to be an escalating problem. I called home from work and the big, sweet buff chick had been picked bloody in several spots and the three 'good girls' were squawking and trying to hide. So, Rooster Booster and Hot Pick and the Blue Kote stuff aside, the sparrow looking chick was taken for a ride in the car in a nice cardboard box. We drove down to a horse property within a mile that has loads of horses and chickens running where ever they want. Chicken heaven. I talked to the owner, asked her to take our pecker and she did. I put her into their chick pen and she will hopefuly be happier there. The folks know way more about chickens than me. (I run & dog walk past there often so can check on her if the mood hits). Thanks for everyone's help.
Replies
I had a similar problem with my hens. The Hot Picks didn't work when I tried it. I ended up giving all the girls lots more space to move around. Things got better for a while, but it was much better when I brought in 2 new pullets to distract the hens from picking on the little one. This is the only thing that worked.
PS...giving "time-outs" doesn't work.
Good luck!