Trixabell Posted April 18, 2008 Share Posted April 18, 2008 Yesterday after being out all day (and also slightly drunk as i was with friends), i came back just before the girls bedtime and put them away as normal, not noticing anythinng unusual until i went to go back inside the house and noticed a bright red patch in the corner of the run....it was blood!! I then noticed another patch on the other side, some in the food bowl and even some on the CD i had hanging up. I completely panicked and opened the nest box to find that Gwyns comb was bleeding, not badly, literally a drop out of the top of it, I picked her up and brought her inside and dabbed at it, making sure there was nothing else hurt on her and that she was okay in herself, which she was. It seems that she was pecking a hole in the corner of the run, right next to the hutch and she must have been rubbing her comb on some raw wood and she has basically repeatedly done it til its bled This really concerned me that the girls are getting bored in their run so I succombed this morning and let them out to free range for the first time for half an hour....i'm hoping this will prevent her from doing it again because its breaking up the monotomy of their day...they seemed to enjoy it and my dog was just interested in sniffing their bottoms every time they got near which didn't bother them in the slightest!! Can anyone suggest anything I can put in the run to distract them? I did have a hanging cabbage but they batted it down and its nearly gone now, but is there anything else that can go in there? I am going to need to amuse them for the whole day because i am back at work next week and cannot let them out to free range til i get home, i don't wanna go out and find more blood!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted April 18, 2008 Share Posted April 18, 2008 Have they perches and something to scratch around in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted April 18, 2008 Share Posted April 18, 2008 Have they got a dustbath? Maybe get them a peck block - keeps mine amused for ages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trixabell Posted April 18, 2008 Author Share Posted April 18, 2008 They have a HUGE dustbath but admittedly because i thought it was going to rain yesterday i kept it covered up, i regret doing that now. No they don't have any perches the hutch never came with any. Whats a PeckBlock??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted April 18, 2008 Share Posted April 18, 2008 ... I tried hanging veg up in the run for them to peck at, but they were just really scared of them. "OMG! a....KILLER CABBAGE LEAF....! in our home!!!" etc etc. Stupid birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted April 18, 2008 Share Posted April 18, 2008 Whats a PeckBlock??? Have a look here http://www.flytesofancy.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_Pecka_Block.html They're not cheap but as long as they dont get wet mine last about three weeks (wet they last about 2 hours ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trixabell Posted April 18, 2008 Author Share Posted April 18, 2008 Brilliant i'm ordering one now as we speak i think thats precisely the kind of thing they need!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted April 18, 2008 Share Posted April 18, 2008 I've tried the smaller peck blocks used for budgies I get them from a local pet shop for a £ each, so far they last almost a week if they dont get wet, i have 4 girls and they all have a little go at it, they are made of seeds & honey and are rock hard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flo Posted April 18, 2008 Share Posted April 18, 2008 I bought a wild bird feeder cage from puondland at the weekend. It is a small square cage on a chain, I think you are meant to put fat blocks in it, but I have been filling it with treats and the girls love it. I line it with lettuce leaves and then put sweetcorn or pasta inside and hang it up in the run. The girls peck at it for ages getting the sweetcorn to drop out and then nibble it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surferdog Posted April 18, 2008 Share Posted April 18, 2008 What a fab idea Flo. I'm in town this afternoon will look for one of those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...