Expert: Abi - 10/15/2007

Question
Hi,
We have four chickens that all "grew up" together. Two of them have started plucking their feathers out of the other, to the point where is behind was bare! We separated them and the one is healing nicely but is now living= with 8 "chicks" and I would like to put her back with the originals. My fear is a repeat of the plucking. Suggestions?
We also have lovebirds and have them in an aviary with cockatiel. They have been this way for over a year. A few days ago I noticed that the original Mother lovebird had been injured by another lovebird. I put the injured one in a separate cage inside the aviary. I went the next day to clean her water and she got out. I did not have enough time to try to catch her, had to go to work. Came home to find her even more severely attacked and I am afraid she is going to lose her eye. She was "adopted" and not hand raised and is a royal pain to even try to hold. (two pairs of gloves) I would like to see what her status is however she feels differently. My husband refuses to pay for a vet, so I need to do the best I can with what we've got. Ideas?
Thank you in advance.
A worried Mom...

Answer
With the chickens, make sure the hen has no bald patches or spots of blood showing as this could encourage the other hens to peck at her. Make sure they're not bored and have plenty to do. I find skewering a whole cabbage on a stick and driving it into the ground for them to peck at a good boredom beater! If they start at it again let me know and I will try to find the cause of the problem.

With the lovebirds I'm not sure, they're not my speciallist subject- but I think she does need to see a vet if her eye is hurt.