I have four wonder pet chickens. An Americuna, two Brahmas, and a brown leghorn. All was fine until a four months ago when I noticed the Brahmas necks were becoming bare. I watched and watched, and to make a long story short, the pecker was my leghorn. (even the Americuna was getting pecked, although not as much.) I jumped into action and used some strong gooey stuff to help them stay away from each other and heal their necks. (I even read on the net that using aftershave on the hens would discourage them from going after the feathers.) After a lot of goo and aftershave, and may I say, pick some aftershave you like, because you end up wearing more of it then the chickens, I decided to separate the Leghorn. So for about two months she was one solitary confinement. I set her up a nice corner in the coop, she could see everybody but not peck at them. WELL, all was going well until,(Neck feathers coming in and al) I noticed that the Americuna was pecking the tail feathers out of my Brahmas. (Those darn sweet brahmas!, I tried to talk them in to defending themselves, but they didn't listen!) So now they are all in the coop together. The brahmas seem to put up with it with no ill effects. (Except I have bald patches on my chickens.) I still get eggs, all is good in the coop, they love their coop and outside area.......
My question is......should I do anything else? Can they just go on this way? Will they get over it? Are they safe? I guess that is a few questions. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
Feather Pecking
How long have you had them? Have they been establishing a pecking order or have they been together and suddenly the pecking started? Some chickens are more aggressive than others. Do you give them scraps so they have plenty to peck at? They may need extra protien. Some chickens will start pecking others if they need more protien. Unless they draw blood I wouldn't worry too much about it, but make sure they have plenty to peck at and enough protien in their diet.
Thanks, I got them last March as chicks. They have always been together. The pecking started at about 5 months. I tried cat food, but they did not eat it and it attracted bees. They have a good sized outdoor area. I cannot let them free range, due to my dogs and other predators. I give them lots to peck at, and tend to them many times a day.
What other protein would they like?
Some of the pecking is at night, I assume while they roost together. That was the reason I could not tell, at first who was doing the pecking.
Thanks for your help!
wow learned something else. my 3 wyandottes pick each others tail feathers and eat them. Had a Mandarin duck baby that did it too. Never knew why. Guess it is cricket time. Glad they are so cheap
Good idea! The store here sells meal worms. That should help. I gave them a lot of meal worms when they were little. I will get some crickets too!
They also love cottage cheese, and you can give them unmedicated chick starter to boost their protien.
And of course they always love worms.
What about Mazuri Waterfowl Starter?? I have a whole bag of it
I always let my chickens pick my dinner bones clean... they'll strip a T-bone clean in an afternoon, a chicken carcass, pork chop bones, what have you. Makes my garbage nicer, too. =0)
It just seems kind of 'wrong' to let them pick a chicken carcass clean......LOL!!.
Just don't tell them it's chicken :)
Just remember... chickens are reptiles with feathers... think Komodo Dragon with a feather boa...
I know, that's another reason why I'm going with ducks instead of chickens.....they look less dinosaurish....lol.
What about Poultry peepers? They have pinless ones. Has anyone used those to prevent pecking?