Chicken Hemlet

[ChickaBob]

Good morning.

I added a couple new chicks to my flock a few months ago (5 total). They have integrated well except for the fact one of them has no feathers on the top her head now. I assume she is getting pecked like my old one that died and had a bald spot.

I do not see the pecking so I do not think it is overly vicious.

But that being said, does anyone recommend a good helmet to buy or have any other advice?

Thanks!

 

[DobieLover]

Instead of a helmet, give them lots of space with lots of things to do in that space.

 

[Eggcessive]

What kind of chick is it? Do you have a picture of the head? When I had 2 Polish pullets, and later hens in my first flock, the Polish would take turns being victims of head feathers being pecked out. If caught early, BluKote Spray which colors the red skin purple, would take care of it. But if you don’t notice it right away, they can scalp one. Pine tar, Nustock Cream or Vicks may also work since those taste bad. Make sure that your chickens have plenty of room, get outside to roam around if safe, and that you are feeding a balanced chicken feed with at least 16-20% protein, and limit any extras.

 

[ChickaBob]

What kind of chick is it? Do you have a picture of the head? When I had 2 Polishes pullets, and later hens in my first flock, the Polish would take turns being victims of head feathers being pecked out. If caught early, BluKote Spray which colors the red skin purple, would take care of it. But if you don’t notice it right away, they can scalp one. Pine tar, Nustock Cream or Vicks may also work since those taste bad. Make sure that your chickens have plenty of room, get outside to roam around if safe, and that you are feeding a balanced chicken feed with at least 16-20% protein, and limit any extras.

They have tons of room. 250ft2 for the 5 of them. The coop was designed for 4 chickens. The roost is only 4' long. I put a second roost perpendicular and a little lower. She is almost always down low by herself on it.

The thing is when I had only 4 chickens and the coop was sized better, the Rhoda-bar got pecked the same way.

Never any blood.

The one getting pecked now is a red sex link. I think it is the black sex link doing it. Both are/were the lowest in the pecking order.

I think it happens at night as I rarely ever see them pecking each other during the day. They all get along pretty well tbh.

 

[ChickaBob]

 

[Eggcessive]

They will peck feathers on the roost in the evening. My rooster with a beard used to just sit there while a hen would pull out his feathers. Maybe the 2 roost bars are too close together? Had to know the answer always.