The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: chickchris on October 06, 2009, 07:16:29 pm
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We have just taken on 3 hens, 1 of which has been feather pecking the other 2. One has just feathers missing but one has broken skin. We are hoping the now they will have more room this will reduce and hopefully go altogether but if it doesn't I have read that you can have the beak trimmed. Are there any other solutions other than separating them completely? Thanks
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:chook:hi a lot of chickens do this i can become a problem if not stopped quickly if a chicken sees an injury ie broken skin they can keep at it causing infection, i had this problem a few years ago with some black rocks and tried anti peck spray gention violet spary stockholm tar beak trimming in the end i lost one hen due to her injury i put a cock bird in with them and he became king pin no more problems. a lot of hatcheries do beak trim at day old stage because it is a larger problem with hybrids. if you do go down the beak trimming be very careful read up about it first. :pig: :)
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This is gonna sound cruel but i have only one solution !!LUNCH!!,
we had the problem a few years back and tried separation etc (didn't opt for beak trimming, risks out ran the ups)
i would suggest do it sooner rather than later or other birds could pick up the habit and you could loose your whole flock!!
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im glad you said that cameron that would be my course of action but did not know how to say it some people are always ready to hear that the only happy out come is to cull, i would not hesitate after our first encounter with feather pecking. :chook:
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ukadex. It really stinks,you will stink after using it (so wear old clothes) your chickens will stink and everything in the near vicinity will stink. BUT IT WORKS. Other hens hate it and it will stop your feather pecking problem in no time at all. Problem solved. Can get it online.
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:)thats the antipeck stuff i used your right i stunk every thing ran away from me people twiched their noses at me but were to polite to say any thing the smell lingered even after going through the wash but the chickens kept right on plucking each other ( blackrocks i have been told its a common problem with them not 100% this is so though) alls harmony now with all my dedicated chicken areas having a husband to keep the girls in check.
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We've never had a feather pecking problem but I agree that a cockerel stops all nonsense.
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make a "collar" out of cardboard and put it round the peckers neck. ( Like when a dog comes from the vet) I just use a cornflake packet. The pecker can still eat and drink but not much else. I find that four days will do it.
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not sure but arent there beak rings to stop this?