Pecking Problem?

[lauriej57]

I posted a previous thread about my 2 EE's who had their beards pecked off during our really cold spell. They are fine now, haven't gotten any worse.

Now I have my unkown big white chicken, who has a bare butt, I used Blue Kote on her about 5 days ago, the blue kote has worn off the skin, and she's still bare and red, not swollen, just red, and she acts fine. Just keeping a close eye on her right now.

However, I have my unkown medium sized black hen, who had feathers picked on the side of her head around the same time. (This is 4 hens out of 16 who have had some problems, everyone else is fine.)

About ten days ago, my black hen, Wilma, her her whole head had been picked and it was raw, her eyes were gunky, one was completely shut. I brought her in, wiped her eye out, it opened up, and I put her in quarantine.

Within 1 day, she looked much better. She seems fine now, her bald head looks really dried out though. She's still laying just fine. I did let her out in the run with the other hens 5 days ago, and by the end of the day she had a couple of blood spots on her head again, so back to her own place she went. She's in my chick spot of the coop, and I'm keeping the door to the other side of the coop open so she has some contact with the others. I can't keep her isolated forever though.

I diligently check for mites and lice, and find none on any of them. I am going to sevens dust the coops just to be sure. I bought her last spring with about 8 chicks, she was with my other black chick who turned out to be a black leghorn, but Wilma is not a leghorn, and smaller than the other one. They are also my only black chickens, and today I noticed that the black leghorn's head is starting to look a little bit dry and maybe missing a few feathers around her head....

Does anyone have any ideas, do I have a problem, is it just pecking, or maybe something else. I'm thinking a pecking problem, but I have been watching this for quite some time, and can't figure out who is doing it. I do have one rooster, a banty, could he be the culprit.

I'm at a loss here.

[Vampyra]

To me this seems to be pecking. Now to find out why. Do they have enough room ? Are they bored ? Do they have enough protein or supplements ?

First off what do you feed them ? Are they getting layer food with 16% protein and no scratch, bread or corn ? Are you giving them calcium supplement free choice in another bowl ? How a bout a little grit ? (Can't hurt)

How big is this coop and how many birds are in it ? Can you give them things to do like peck at a head of cabbage or lettuce, a bale of straw or hay, a magazine or a small stack of newspapers ? Are they locked up with nothing to do ?

There is a reason for this pecking but finding out why is your problem.

Vamp

[ttaxer77]

hi lauriej57, i would say it is definitly a pecking problem. i have 1 black hen,15 white, 10 red and the 1 black hen had to be isolated from the rest becouse they pecked her head, lower back andbelow vent and side.she looked pretty bad. since i seperated her, feathers are growing back in. i put her in chick pen with buddy he's my older rooster and they get along just fine.she is smaller than the other hens. i believe that is why they were picking on her. i would hate to think that chickens are predjudice

[dragnlaw]

From what you are describing, I too believe it to be a pecking problem. You could start by removing the roo and work your way thru the group.

[Vampyra]

Originally Posted by lauriej57

Within 1 day, she looked much better. She seems fine now, her bald head looks really dried out though. She's still laying just fine.

I didn't think about this until now but if her head seems dried out rub some petroleum jelly on it that might help.

Vamp

[lauriej57]

The original problem did start when they were a bit overcrowded, as I hadn't accounted for the bad weather and not being able to get out into the run, and not having electricity in the other coop this past winter. With both coops open they have about 5 square feet per bird, plus their run. I am letting them out each day, regardless of the weather now. They also free range for a couple of hours every evening. When i did let wilma out with the others, it was while they were free ranging, and she still got pecked on. They have been strictly on layer mash with 17% protein. In the cold weather I was giving them cracked corn in the evenings. I also feed their shells back to them for additonal calcium. My chickens are spoiled, do not like raw vegetables, except for tomatoes, the cabbage thing doesn't work. I will put some magazines out their for them to play with, since I have an abundance in my garage thanks to an inlaw.

I had thought about the petroleum jelly, I will do that today.

Thanks for the answers, I was sure it was a pecking problem, nice to know that I was on the right track. Now to find the culprit, unless it's just a group pecking problem.