Polish Crest Pecked Out. I’m at my wits end, please help :(

[SemiSweet2391]

Here is the original thread about my poor Jadwiga, but now I need some more help for her.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...h-weirdness-help.1643602/page-2#post-28154058

The TL;DR is her flock mates were pecking out her crest and I couldn’t find any way to get them to stop other than complete separation.

I ended up just keeping her in a separate space that is still within sight of the flock, to let her feathers grow back. It was taking forever, and last night I felt like I had to put her back with her flock because I worried it would be too cold by herself (15 F; she’s been staying in two dog cages that I’ve linked together. I cover them with a tarp every night to protect her from the wind but I worried it would be too cold last night).

And just like I feared she has several of her feathers pecked out. I could cry!!

What is the most likely answer to this:

1. Are they pecking them because she is different?? So, it won’t stop even if they are all grown back in?

2. Were the feathers not grown back in sufficiently? So they were still an obvious target? If they had been less pin-feather-y, maybe she’d have been left alone?

Please help. Any opinions are welcome. I’m so frustrated for my poor Jadwiga!!

Pic 1. Last night. Wanted to have a before in case she was pecked at
Pic 2. Several feathers pecked out

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Is she the only Crested bird? Chickens peck things that are different, and a single created bird will definitely be different enough to draw attention a lot of times

 

[SemiSweet2391]

Is she the only Crested bird? Chickens peck things that are different, and a single created bird will definitely be different enough to draw attention a lot of times

Yes she is. My other one died. I’ve been worried that this is the case. What do you suggest?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yes she is. My other one died. I’ve been worried that this is the case. What do you suggest?

Sad reality with crested birds or birds with unusual feathering is they may need to be kept in separate flocks with like-birds, to prevent picking or bullying.

I do have 1 crested bird and so far no issues with her head feathers, but I'm aware that might not hold up forever. I do have an oversized run and lots of clutter to keep the flock busy though.

If you cannot create a separate set up then rehoming her may be the best option as she's likely going to keep getting plucked bald.

 

[Paz]

Yes she is. My other one died. I’ve been worried that this is the case. What do you suggest?

My suggestion is to get a couple more of them. When there are a few who look strange, it no longer looks so strange. I'm not a huge expert though, and I've never had crested birds, it's just the logical aproach in my opinion. If it doesn't work, you can build them a separate structure to live in, if you can afford it, of course.

 

[Sefirothe]

Does her crest keep her from seeing well? I have one Polish chicken in my flock and noticed she was a bit picked on because she couldn’t see the other hens telling her to move off so she got pecked at.

Once I trimmed her poof into more of a Mohawk she was able to see and avoid the other hens appropriately.

Last spring I just took a pair of scissors and carefully trimmed back the feathers around her eyes and on the sides of her skull. She looked a little funny but was able to coexist better so I didn’t care that much.

Now that she’s molted and grown it all back it will be time to do it again lol.

 

[SemiSweet2391]

Sad reality with crested birds or birds with unusual feathering is they may need to be kept in separate flocks with like-birds, to prevent picking or bullying.

I do have 1 crested bird and so far no issues with her head feathers, but I'm aware that might not hold up forever. I do have an oversized run and lots of clutter to keep the flock busy though.

If you cannot create a separate set up then rehoming her may be the best option as she's likely going to keep getting plucked bald.

Ok, thank you for your advice. If her separate setup is next to the other girls, like a look don’t touch basically, would she be lonely? Would she need other Polish friends? I’d rather give her her own setup than rehome her because at this point I’m very attached to her! I’ve spent a long time trying to nurse her head back to health.

 

[SemiSweet2391]

Does her crest keep her from seeing well? I have one Polish chicken in my flock and noticed she was a bit picked on because she couldn’t see the other hens telling her to move off so she got pecked at.

Once I trimmed her poof into more of a Mohawk she was able to see and avoid the other hens appropriately.

Last spring I just took a pair of scissors and carefully trimmed back the feathers around her eyes and on the sides of her skull. She looked a little funny but was able to coexist better so I didn’t care that much.

Now that she’s molted and grown it all back it will be time to do it again lol.

I can try this! She has a big poof that for sure covers her eyes. She’s the easiest to catch because she can’t see you coming

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

I would just trim her crest. Be careful of the blood feathers.

 

[Sefirothe]

I can try this! She has a big poof that for sure covers her eyes. She’s the easiest to catch because she can’t see you coming

Oreo was the same way until she got her hair cut!

I didn’t trim down close to the skin, just mid feather shaft.

I figured if I could see her eyes she could see the world!