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E4eggs

Bumper bits, bullies thwarted, depressed!!!

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Having had two Omlet girls for two and a half weeks now, and two ex-batts for four days, yesterday I fitted the two Omlets (henceforth known as The Krays) with a Bumper Bit each, as they were bullying the other two very badly, Aggie in particular was very bloody, and although I was spraying her with the purple spray that you buy and trying to keep them separate as much as possible, The Krays were merciless. Also I was constantly bleaching my skin as the purple dye stains and I was getting rather fed up with the whole shebang!!

 

Immediately The Krays were thwarted, it must be like breaking in a horse. The wind was completely taken out of their sails, and everything seemed a lot calmer, but today I'm noticing that they seem a little hunched and sulky.

 

Has anyone else any experience of this? I'm pleased that the ex-batts have a little peace and can relax but wonder about the effect on The Krays. Have they just to learn new behaviour?

 

I was reading on another web-site that the Bumper Bits stay on for about 3 weeks and eventually biodegrade and fall off. What happens when they come off? Do the bullies revert to their former behaviour?

 

I can't believe how calm and more relaxed I feel today. I now feel that I can enjoy my girls, without the stress and upset, as the bullying was so bad and would recommend the bumper bits as they've made such a difference.

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Glad to hear this E4eggs.

 

We're going to fit bumper bits to our 4 ex-battery girls at the weekend so that they (hopefully) will then live in harmony with our bantams all together in the cube.

 

One of the big girls managed to get over the barrier and had a right go at poor Daphne. Then we tried to introduce the most timid big girl, with similar results.

 

You have given me hope :D

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Some of you may remember the trouble I had with bullying and it has started again! They only seem to do it when they aren't free ranging. Anyway I have purchased some anti-peck rings from Dom Wildfowl Trust but am very nervous about putting it on. Is there anyone who lives near Solihull with experience of this that could give me a hand? Have even considered taking them to a vet to have them fitted there!?!

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If you put the closed flat end into their beak first then the two prongs are easy to get into their nostrils.

 

You will need 2 people one to hold the chicken, we find kneeling on the ground with the chicken between our legs works best, then the person holding the chicken needs to hold its head still so that the other person can fit the bit.

 

We fitted 2 of ours with bumper bits just over a week ago and they sulked for about 24 hours but are fine now.

 

Personally I prefer the bumper bits having used both because they have a protruding part in front of the beak which stops them stabbing with their beaks, and one of ours still managed to pull feathers with an anti-peck ring :shock:

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After a terrible week recently with Alice going in for the kill with Suki, Hubby and I fitted an ant pecking device on Alice and May who was also becoming a bully. Alice and May are now lovely hens.....although still go through the motions of feather pecking. Suki's feathers have grown again, though she is still bottom of the pecking order. I'm sooo glad we went ahead and did this, because Suki would have died.

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Thank you all for your reply. It seems we will have to fit these rings if peace is to reign and we are to actually start enjoying chicken keeping! I will see if I can get some bumper bits and try those instead of the anti peck rings as a few of you on here seem to have had success with those. There are 3 hens bullying one hen so I suppose I put them on the three meanies :evil: and not the good girl :D .

 

This really is a last resort for us and a route I really didn't want to take but needs must I'm afraid.

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