Hen Pecking

[iMum]

Ive got to ex battery hens, Blanche ive had for about 9 months and Betty for about 2 months.
(Blanche had a friend who was unfortunately foxed hence the replacement in the shape of Betty)

Betty, started off lovely, shes much younger than blanche but has now started pecking blanches's feathers out, Ive tried anti peck spray to no avail-It started when we had the snow and for basically 3 days they didnt leave their eglu.
I think maybe boredom/distress set in and thus the pecking? Anyway they freerange around our garden and the snow has been gone for about 1 week now but the feather plucking goes on-Ive now put blanche in the naughty hen pen while I beg mumsnet for ideas think about what next to do!

Ex Battery hens do this a lot in their cages. It's due to boredom and a lot end up injured and even killed. All I can think is that you either sit it out and let them get on with it, or separate them if the anti-peck spray isn't working.

Can you provide them with some things to do? Straw bales to peck at, vegetables such as greens hung up for them etc.

They have lots of tit bits, porridge, scraps etc-I will investigae the starw bale idea tho! they do have a rotting tree trunk that is full of bugs and things which they do peck at-Its so sad to see Blanche who was very fiesty to begin with now so hen pecked, Betty dominates the food and how close blanche can get to it-ive seperated them to let blanche regrow and hopefully breaking the peck cycle will help?

Unfortunately, the battery hen breeds are quite aggressive and birds are primitive creatures and so it's extremely difficult to manipulate their behaviour. I don't know what else to suggest really. Some people just let them get on with it and hope that the perpetrator just gets bored with pecking.

Take a look at the Down The Lane forum as the people there are very knowledgeable about chickens and may be able to suggest something.

Also, The Poultry Garden forum has lots of very helpful people there. There might be another product that you could try.

Paint the pecked hen with Stockholm tar - it will heal her and prevent further pecking.

Tie some winter greens up in the run. Put them up as high as you can so the hens have to work to get them. It should help to alleviate boredom.

god, do ex-batts fight!

they have come from a cage where they've been bored shitless and had to fight for every bit of food, and a bit of room to get at it! (the stronger ones tend to hog the food trough)

they can't get rid of this instinct when they leave.

ironically, they'll fight to the death with their fellow chickens, but they're as nice as pie and sooo afectionate to humands (because humans put them in their prisons to start with)

make sure they have at least 2sq metres per hen i ntheir run, and they should be able to keep out of each other's way.
and have 1 food pot for each bird - seriously, it's the only way, cos the biggest bully will always go for the food tub that the wimpiest one is at.

and if you're worried about them not getting any food, you can let the wimps out first, and give them food before letting the bullies out.