can someone help me my laying hens are picking at each other till they bled. they have water feed scraps to eat and plenty of room ihave never had this before,what can i do . cookster ann
chickens picking
If you have a light in the coop, change it to a red light. or even turn it completely off at night for a while. They can't see the blood that way and keep picking. You can also give them some entertainment by tying heads of lettuce, cabbage or other firm vegetables to a string, then hang it overhead so they have to stretch and jump to gget at it. A bale of hay in the run or coop will keep them busy pulling it apart. I also toss a handful or two of bird seed or whole grain in the loose hay and straw so they spend the day looking for it. Often they pick where the rooster has already worn away the feathers. You can put the little chicken coats on them till they heal. You can also try extra protein in their diet with catfood or ground burger.
I think we're all ready to start pecking each other this winter!
LOL Well said Jyl.. too funny... but true!
Jyl, too funny. That is all great advise. Not much else to add. Its tough when they are cooped up during the winter. Bordom is the problem mostly. Its been one long cold winter. All mine had nothing better to do so they all went broody! ahhhhhh! NO EGGS! LOL I am grabbing a head of cabbage today. ;)
I agree with the above only you might want to put something on the picked places on their backs.
Might stop them from repicking the ones that have been picked.
I use Pine Tar but others here use Blue Coat you can also order Hot Pick off the internet.
were can you get pine tar and blue coat? they have seed blocks also cat food has protien, and wont berger raw make them want more blood? we have never had this happen, and its the back ends they pick at no place elese and they have the beaks cut off. ill try cat food first thank you for the help
cooksterann -They want whats in front of them. I don't think the burger meat will have any negative effects. They zero in and go for what they see in front of their little beaks so as long as they've got something tempting besides another chicken to peck on, you should be fine...
Blue Coat is available at the feed store if I remember correctly..
I've been pulling up weeds and giving them to the chickens to play with.. they do too! Especially dandelion it's very nutritious. There is another one I used to call "Lollipops" it's green with a round leaf at the end of the stem? Horses love it.. so do the chickiez.. even just grass will divert their attention..
Oh, sure rub it in that you can see weeds! hehehe! I still got lots of white stuff.
I did buy the cabbage today though. ;)
OH no! LOL I didn't think of that! LOL I'm knee deep in grass out back! Can't imagine not being able to see the ground.. and not having grass? Wow.. I'm such a zone 9 sissy. :)
Ground? what does the ground look like? I haven't seen it since November 16.
zone 9 sissy!!! Thats is funny! hehehe We are due for another foot tonight through tomorow. I really do not mind though. I was just kidding.!! Jyl, I'm with you. Its been awhile. LOL
I'm looking at a 1/2'' of ice here. May lose power at any time. Going out to cut wood...TTFN!
Grow, take care!! I have no ice...I dont think. I would rather have snow. Keep warm!
i'll go to feed store look. ground, weeds Comeon i'am in michigan got 24 inches on ground. chickens look out the door run back they are looking for chick snow shoes. winter coats, and wing mittens
We have nothing but ice -nice and smooth. I can't get traction in my gravel driveway if that tells you anything...nice and smooth...