I have a dozen hens. Six golden comets. Five RIR and the one free bird I got is a white bird. I think it is a light brahma. They are almost one year old. They have always gotten along. They live in a good sized coop inside the barn at night. During the day they have a large outdoor run and we also open the door on it and let them free range around our 28 acre farm. I noticed "Whitey" was losing feathers around her neck. I thought she was moulting. She also is losing feathers around her bum. I still thought moulting. Well, tonight I observed other hens pecking at her neck and pulling out feathers. Whitey didn't seem to react or care. I was horrified.
I didn't know what to do but remembered a few things I've read here. I put some Braggs vinegar in the flock's drinking water. I then got my husband to catch Whitey for me. I slathered on vasoline thickly on her neck and her bum. Her neck was so red and felt hot. She seemed to know I was trying to help her. Poor Whitey.
We have a small indoor coop inside the common coop. We put Whitey in there to isolate her from her attackers till I find out what I should be doing for her. I put her food and water in there and added some cat food in case she needs more protein. Tomorrow I'll hang a head of cabbage for the others to peck at to distract them from her. I will let them all out to free range and watch. If they are still picking on her I'll pur her back indoors but I hate to do that since it's such pretty weather.
This is new behavior. They have all gotten along before. The pecking doesn't seem to be mean spirited or fighting at all. They eat a good mash of 16% protein from the grainery here. Is there something else I can do to stop this? Is it because she's the only white bird?
Moulting? Now pecking. Help
Can you get some "No Pick" lotion to put on her? It tastes terrible and will stop the hens from picking at her. Should have it at your local feed store..
No roos? Just hens?
I'll try to get out to the Tractor Supply and ask for no peck lotion. I never heard of that before. Sounds good. No roosters. Only hens.
Tractor Supply here had never heard of the No Pick Lotion. I call my vet who raises chickens too and he said he puts hot sauce on his chickens to prevent pecking. I haven't tried that yet. I did order some of the No Pick Lotion online but it hasn't arrived. For now, my hen is separated from the flock and her neck is getting some healing time.
That's the stuff.. it's Rooster Booster Pick no more.. I'm glad she is getting the chance to heal.
Good Luck!
Thanks. One of her "girlfriends" spotted her out in the garden and walked out to visit with her. They were pecking the ground together but with an 8 foot fence between them. :) I hope it was a girlfriend and not someone looking to score some more feathers. :) Whitey looked happy to see her anyway.
How long does it take feathers to come in enough her neck will look white again instead of red?
It is odd that your vet uses hot pepper sauce...chickens do not have taste receptors that recognize the "heat" in hot peppers:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Can_chickens_eat_green_peppers
I have a couple of youngsters who are picking at the other's tails.. I need to find my lotion, I thought it was boredom, but it can't be with all the room they have and all they have to eat it can't be boredom! Actually, I think it's more of a bad habit like biting nails.. just not as hard to correct. I've had a few others that did it.. but got over it with a few tastes of no pick lotion.
Now one that just moves to a different location on the bird being picked, is another story. If I had a bird that is doing that real seriously, and I couldn't stop her/him, they wouldn't last long here.