Vent Pecking

[Temere]

I have a hen that is relentlessly vent pecking. It’s likely a learned behavior from being in an overcrowded coop when I inherited them. When they arrived, the two RIRs had bare bottoms from another hen who was plucking their butt feather and eating them. Unfortunately, the cannibal hen had to be euthanized, but the bare bottoms have attracted another hen to vent peck and cause all kinds of trouble. I have a fourth hen who has been healthy throughout and gets along beautifully with the bare bottom ladies without any pecking issues.

Upon arrival, I quickly moved them to a larger coop, and ruled out other causes (boredom, parasites, lighting, nutrition) but the pecking persists.

I read that the butt feathers on the RIRs will not grow back until their next molt which hasn’t happened in the 6months I’ve had them. With the weather being warmer, I’m able to quarantine this new bully while applying purple spray and ointment to the RIRs and providing more nutrients to the bully. When I’ve let her back into the run with them she immediately pecks their butts (even with purple spray!) and I’m back to square one.
Is there anything else I can try to kick her of this habit? I’ve heard horror stories with pinless peepers, but I’m at my wits end.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I'd try the peepers at this point, this is obviously very much an ingrained habit in this bird.

 

[Temere]

Ok, thank you!
They all look identical to me. Is there a specific brand that the group has had more success with than others, or are they all pretty much a “horse a piece”?

 

[sean_wonder]

I can’t recommend a specific brand, but be sure to use pin-less peepers. There’s a different style which pierces a pin through the septum of the bird that has been proven painful for use.