I unknowningly bought chickens that have a nasty habit. They peck each other until each one has numerous feathers gone. My other chickens did not have this habit until the new ones arrived. How do I keep my chickens healthy and get rid of the pecking problem? Teryl Loftis

-- Teryl Loftis (Teryl Loftis@tntech. edu), September 26, 2002

Answers

try feeding them more calcium,, maybe ther are bored and need more room,, worst case,, de-beaking

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), September 26, 2002.

I wandered over here from the "Ask a Drunk" thread. I have a really funny smart-ass answer but that wouldn't be appropriate here. Dust the offended birds with talcum powder. No kidding. Be sure to mask the blood spots. Try it. I know it sounds silly but if you try it and it works, you can thank me and apolgize later.

-- Zen Clown (martys@iland.net), September 28, 2002.

Damn! I can't help myself. KILL THE OFFENDERS AND EAT THEM IN FRONT OF THE OTHERS!!! That would work with homo-saps and we ain't as smart as chickens. I'm sorry, sorry.

-- Zen Clown (martys@iland.net), September 28, 2002.

My Grandad use to have chicken's and he told me to put a little bit of vingure in thir drinking water it worked for me.

-- Campbell Iain Gillies (cambie@cambi.co.uk), November 11, 2002.

Another method that will acheive the desired result is to paint the hens or chooks as we call them in New Zealand . This is a very effective pecking control measure.

-- tom handiside (tom.handiside@paradise.net.nz), February 21, 2003.