Stevie Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 Sage & Onion my Pepperpot and Gingernut keep pecking at the rubber seals in my UPVC backdoor and are actually breaking tiny bits off.I dont want the seal to fail and let water in so what can i do to deter or stop them from pecking at it? I've tried the antipecking pecking spray and that hasnt done a thing,but i guess this is cos the rubber dont absorb the nasty smelling stuff. Anything else before i end up with a biblical style flood comming through my house??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 Smear it with mustard? Can you block their access to the door in some way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted April 26, 2008 Author Share Posted April 26, 2008 Smear it with mustard? Can you block their access to the door in some way? Not really.They love sunbathing on decking (it heats up wonderfully) and backdoor leads out onto it.It would take an enormous amount of trellis to fortify the entire decking. I dont have Colmans mustard cos i hate the stuff,but do have squeezy mild American instead-do you think this would do??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbey Road Girl Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 What about gluing a mirror tile or screwing on a chrome or stainless steel place next to where they are pecking? Are they doing it just because it's something to do or are they eating the stuff? If it's the latter, maybe you could put a bowl of grit there. As a last resort, hypnosis? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted April 26, 2008 Author Share Posted April 26, 2008 What about gluing a mirror tile or screwing on a chrome or stainless steel place next to where they are pecking? Are they doing it just because it's something to do or are they eating the stuff? If it's the latter, maybe you could put a bowl of grit there. As a last resort, hypnosis? They're both eating the rubber which is strange cos it cant be nice and garden is stocked full of much tastier things.Is the mirror tile suggestion supposed to frighten them away or something??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbey Road Girl Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 They're both eating the rubber which is strange cos it cant be nice and garden is stocked full of much tastier things.Is the mirror tile suggestion supposed to frighten them away or something??? No, just to give them an alternative. My chooks have been in the run since delivered ten days ago. Have been waiting for my son to be around before releasing them into the back garden (two can chase/tempt better than one). In the meantime have been observing how they look for stuff to do (in addition to bossing each other around). The addition of a small mirror has been useful in keeping them occupied. Hens are curious and active critters. If you don't like what they're doing, try alternatives. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 American mustard might do the trick. You can but try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 My two started doing this when I first got them but have now grown out of it (or just got bored with it). I found a liberal spraying of diluted tea tree oil on the joins and round the surrounding brickwork helped a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted April 27, 2008 Author Share Posted April 27, 2008 American mustard might do the trick. You can but try. The American mustard did it! If chooks had facial expressions-Sage looked absolutely disgusted with it! Cheers for the tip cos i wouldnt ever have thought about using mustard! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 Just make sure it doesnt stain your window frames though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutrix Farmers Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 Ours do it to get attention! Just banging on the window doesn't always work so they figure if they do something naughty we'll have to stop what we're doing to talk to them. They show no interest in the door when we are outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted April 27, 2008 Author Share Posted April 27, 2008 hmmm-the mustard isnt such a success as i hoped.It seems they like the taste of it! Sage came trotting up with a yellow smear across her head,went straight to the window and started sticking her beak in the mustard.Onion then did the same. Damn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 bless em.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted April 27, 2008 Author Share Posted April 27, 2008 bless em.. Dread to think what the eggs will taste of though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 funny how they like mustard!, I would have thought it too strong a taste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted April 27, 2008 Author Share Posted April 27, 2008 funny how they like mustard!, I would have thought it too strong a taste. They must be Yankie chooks cos its American mustard! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 do they cluck with an accent?? seriously though, I cant think of what you could use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted April 27, 2008 Author Share Posted April 27, 2008 do they cluck with an accent?? seriously though, I cant think of what you could use. No accent,but they do strut to the right... I gotta find an alternative to mustard cos everytime i open the backdoor-it smells like a burger place and not sure how i can explain this to my neighbours! I prewarned them that there might be a slight poo odour from garden or a little bit of noise perhaps when i got the chooks,but Ronald McDonalds smell! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 what about garlic paste? I would check chicken are ok with garlic as I dont know, but this puts dogs off biting furniture (i've been told) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted April 27, 2008 Author Share Posted April 27, 2008 what about garlic paste? I would check chicken are ok with garlic as I dont know, but this puts dogs off biting furniture (i've been told) I already add garlic powder to their layers pellets cos it neutralises the poo smell so i think they'll go at my door seals even more! Curry powder wouldnt work either cos the Poultry spice i also add to their food smells of a good vindaloo! I need to find a really hot chilli paste... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbey Road Girl Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 I think we've come full circle and back to Egluntine's suggestion of a barrier. A narrow strip of styrofoam stuck to the frame with some silicone? a pile of plastic coat hangers that would fall noisily? A shoe box (or larger cardboard box) with a brick to weigh it down? A tub full of failed politicians? The possibilities are endless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 little beggers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted April 28, 2008 Author Share Posted April 28, 2008 I think we've come full circle and back to Egluntine's suggestion of a barrier. A narrow strip of styrofoam stuck to the frame with some silicone? a pile of plastic coat hangers that would fall noisily? A shoe box (or larger cardboard box) with a brick to weigh it down? A tub full of failed politicians? The possibilities are endless. What im gonna try is a that trellis which folds up like a concertina and fix two legs to either end.When i let them out-i can put it in way of door.I cant think of anything else which might stop em'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...