seankpowell88
Hatching
- Apr 11, 2022
- 2
- 1
- 8
Hi All,
I have a Welsummer chicken (Lucy) who is 1 year old. She began molting back in late December (kinda early but I read that sometimes happens). She is pretty much done but can't seem to grow back her final tail feathers. This is mainly because another hen (Dolly) continues to peck at her! The "bully" chicken Dolly is a Heritage Barred Plymouth Rock.
So far I have increased Lucy's protein intake (mealworms etc), used products like Peck No More and Blue Kote, and separated the bully chicken on and off for 2 weeks.
Lucy (the molting chicken) is laying eggs, she eats and drinks just fine, and her woddle/comb are a healthy red. I noticed when I put on the products to prevent others (particularly the bully Dolly) from pecking at her, that she herself pecks at the product. The other chickens do not peck at her.
When separating the bully Dolly, I put her in a dog crate in the run with her own food and water while still in sight of the flock. I separated her initially for just 4 days and then let her out to see what she would do. She started pecking at Lucy right away. So we separated her in the same way for about 2 weeks and she is STILL pecking at Lucy. This causes some small amounts of bleeding occasionally.
So.....what should I do next?
1. Isolate the bully Dolly out of sight of the other chickens?? And for how long?
2. Separate or isolate Lucy so she can have time away from Dolly the bully to finish growing her tail feathers? But will this stop Dolly from being a bully?
3. Other ideas?
Thanks for your help!
I have a Welsummer chicken (Lucy) who is 1 year old. She began molting back in late December (kinda early but I read that sometimes happens). She is pretty much done but can't seem to grow back her final tail feathers. This is mainly because another hen (Dolly) continues to peck at her! The "bully" chicken Dolly is a Heritage Barred Plymouth Rock.
So far I have increased Lucy's protein intake (mealworms etc), used products like Peck No More and Blue Kote, and separated the bully chicken on and off for 2 weeks.
Lucy (the molting chicken) is laying eggs, she eats and drinks just fine, and her woddle/comb are a healthy red. I noticed when I put on the products to prevent others (particularly the bully Dolly) from pecking at her, that she herself pecks at the product. The other chickens do not peck at her.
When separating the bully Dolly, I put her in a dog crate in the run with her own food and water while still in sight of the flock. I separated her initially for just 4 days and then let her out to see what she would do. She started pecking at Lucy right away. So we separated her in the same way for about 2 weeks and she is STILL pecking at Lucy. This causes some small amounts of bleeding occasionally.
So.....what should I do next?
1. Isolate the bully Dolly out of sight of the other chickens?? And for how long?
2. Separate or isolate Lucy so she can have time away from Dolly the bully to finish growing her tail feathers? But will this stop Dolly from being a bully?
3. Other ideas?
Thanks for your help!
Do an on site search on Pin Less Peepers. They should help curb Dolly's pecking/plucking.
