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Three of my 12 pullets have plucked out a patch of feathers on their backs, just above the place where their tail feathers begin. The patch is about the size of a large plum and are all in the exact same spot. The rest of my pullets and hens are just fine. ...Any idea what the problem is???
I second that... sounds like the pecking order is getting established. The pullets may need more space, as crowding can increase the aggression, or you may just have a very dominant hen. I'd keep a close eye on that situation, because if she bloodies the others, it can get out of hand... all the others will start to peck on them too.
Ahhh, well if that's the case, I know which hen it is, and she rules the roost with an 'iron beak', you could say. ...I'll put a stop to this right now. Thanks for the help!
Err... don't do anything irreversible... just try taking the "Iron Beak" out for a while and see what happens...
we could be wrong, don't forget. We can't see the situation...
Don't worry, I understand that you all can’t see the situation and are offering [possible] causes, and that’s not an exact science. So far, thank heaven, there are no wounds; just feathers missing, leaving a bald spot with the tips of the feathers still in the skin. Looks terrible but there's no blood. Will the feathers grow back? Should I still get some no pick lotion or will their fellow pullets leave them alone?
My two oldest hens have been nasty for months now; I've stood and watched them for long periods of time. I've tried separating them for days, etc., and the 12 pullets still cower in the corner. The only old hen left is a bantam and I have not seen her act aggressively but will keep an eye on her. I'm not willing to risk my new laying flock for a couple old biddies that lay an egg now and then. Egg production is my main objective.
I pulled the two old hens out and they are in a cage, away from the coop for now. Everyone else immediately came out of the corner, relaxed, and started eating and preening. We'll see what tomorrow brings. ……Chicken noodle soup anyone??? ;)
We have some nasty hens, too, so I know just what you mean. The ones who seem to be the meanest are the Silver-Laced Wyandottes. They'll go after the others for no reason at all. I now feed my chickens by sprinkling a long line of pellets with spaces in between some sections; it does cut down on the territoriality. I would get rid of those two hens, also. Chicken noodle soup - yum!
I have a great crock pot recipe that works for old hen, as long as you cut the meat up.
You ladies had me laughing good!! It's so good to know I am not the only one that uses that term "OLD BIDDIE'S" I think it's interesting, I have heard several say that the Wyndott's are some of the meanest chickens. I have never had any so I have no experience with them. I always enjoy the information comming from other's experience. Thanks and Good luck Glenda. P.S. I got a email from ZZ's and she is doing fine, but really looking forward to finishing up her training so she can solo. Haystack
Glenda, I think this would work with older hens; I know it works with the younger ones that I froze before realizing that I should let them rest for a couple of days in the refrigerator before freezing. I also dry-brine my chickens (which for me just means rubbing them with sea salt) when I freeze them, which tenderizes them further. You just have to remember to rinse them before cooking them, and not to add more salt.
Crock Pot Chicken W/ Black Beans and Cream Cheese Recipe
4 hours | 3 min prep
SERVES 4
4-5 boneless chicken breasts (I use cut up whole chicken parts)
1 (15 1/2 ounce) can black beans
1 (15 ounce) can corn
1 (15 ounce) jar salsa, any kind
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
Take 4-5 frozen, yes, frozen, boneless chicken breasts; put into crock pot.
Add 1 can of black beans, drained, 1 jar of salsa, 1 can of corn drained.
Keep in crock pot on high for about 4-5 hours or until chicken is cooked.
Add 1 package of cream cheese (just throw it on top!) and let sit for about 1/2 hour. (Instead of cream cheese, which doesn't melt for me, we add sour cream after it's served. It makes it easier to freeze the leftovers if you want to do that.)
All done and enjoy!
(The last time I made it, I cooked it as directed and then removed the chicken pieces and deboned them. I cut the meat up, put it back, and cooked it a little more. It really was delicious! Since there was a lot of chicken, I doubled up on the corn and beans.)
When I make chicken noodle soup, by the way, I always add a little vinegar to the broth. I got that from a French cookbook. It really brings out the flavor.
I have both a large and a small crock pot, but I always seem to use the large one. If there is too much space around the chicken in the large, go to a smaller one if you have it, but I always find that by the time I add the meat and whatever other ingredients there are, I need the extra room.
What size chicken? You might want to double the corn and beans, as I do, if there's a decent amount. I tend to like more trimmings anyway, since I think we eat too much meat as it is.
By the way, I always play with recipes, so I usually add a little cilantro and/or some chili powder and garlic powder - or crushed garlic - to this.
Kassy, we eat our chickens - and our geese, although we have three geese that are being given a pass because I think they protect the other fowl in the poultry yard. When we raised sheep we ate the lambs, and when we raised goats we ate the buck kids. We figured it was a good life for all the critters: fresh air, nice pasture, room to play and eat and do their thing. So we have never felt guilty about it. And besides, they taste so good!
Yuck...I don't even eat venison...LOL
Brother was working on a farm years ago and had a calf that the mother didn't want to feed. He was afraid to bring it home for me to take care of because I probably wouldn't eat beef then ...LOL
I was raised in the country, but we had many animals for pets, including a deer
