Couperman Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 Flurry's bumper bit has fallen off. All the others who were starting to feather back up nicely are all bald again. This is war! Chemical warfare to be precise. I have just ordered some Ukadex from P & T Poultry and a Nuclear Biological Chemical protection suit from Army Surplus This is my last attempt to curb Flurry's anti-social behaviour, before resorting to more drastic measures like revoking breathing privilages Don't worry I'm too much of a wuss to carry that threat out I really have lost my sense of humour with this little white *******@! though. I daren't let anyone see our chooks anymore as they are in such a state. If the Yuckydex doesn't work I think she will have to go, the only problem is I don't know where Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 Oh sorry to hear the war zone is in operation again. Hazel our feather plucker had a bumper bit on which fell off two weeks ago. Fortunately she seems to have stopped. If not she'd gat another bit put on!!! Hope your new strategies work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 (edited) Could you isolate her for a couple of weeks so that she "unlearns" her bad habit? Good luck with the Yuckydex. Edited June 1, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 Have you got another BB you can fit on to her Kev until the Ukadex arrives?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbey Road Girl Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 Sorry to hear about the reverting to form, Kev. When I saw a little feather plucking when mine were settling in, I sprayed the hen that seemed in danger of having her feathers plucked with some tea tree oil diluted with water and it seemed to help. I didn't want any hens to get a taste for feathers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 Bad news, Kev . Good luck with your new battle tactics . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted June 1, 2008 Author Share Posted June 1, 2008 Yes it is seriously annoying, I really really hope the Yucky stuff works because I don't want to contemplate the re-homing thing. You can just imagine the post in the 'Free to a good home' forum. One lovely white chicken from hell, loves to peck all the feathers off her chums, eats bumper bits for fun, immune to Violet spray, Bitter Beak, Vaseline, Tea tree oil, Citronella, Napalm, Harsh Language, Sarah Kennedy and Ukadex, likes blood and raw flesh (preferably still alive). Any takers? I doubt it. Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 how many chooks do you have in what size area? I seem to remember you agonising over whether to squeeze a few more in. You don't think there might be an overcrowding issue do you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 You can just imagine the post in the 'Free to a good home' forum. One lovely white chicken from hell, loves to peck all the feathers off her chums, eats bumper bits for fun, immune to Violet spray, Bitter Beak, Vaseline, Tea tree oil, Citronella, Napalm, Harsh Language, Sarah Kennedy and Ukadex, likes blood and raw flesh (preferably still alive). Sorry shouldn't laugh, but it did! A bit of separation therapy might work though? Worth a try? Hope harmony follows soon....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinkybijou Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 Sorry to hear you have the chicken from hell! Just out of interest, what on earth is a bumper bit? I've never heard of one and am intrigued! Kris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 Any takers? I doubt it. I know just the guy . That bloke from the Times article who has "2 pet foxes" . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted June 1, 2008 Author Share Posted June 1, 2008 how many chooks do you have in what size area? I seem to remember you agonising over whether to squeeze a few more in. You don't think there might be an overcrowding issue do you? No, we didn't get any more Justine, I thought we would wait until they all got re-feathered as it were. So we have five girls in a 10m^2 run with a fairly large free range area too. Flurry seems to have developed a bad habit, at least there is no blood this time. Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted June 1, 2008 Author Share Posted June 1, 2008 Sorry to hear you have the chicken from hell! Just out of interest, what on earth is a bumper bit? I've never heard of one and am intrigued! Kris A bumper bit is basically a plastic muzzle for hens, it fits around the beak and stops them doing damage with the sharp point of the beak. It also has a strip that stops them closing the beak totally so they cannot pull feathers. It doesn't affect normal eating or drinking and doesn't seem to cause any distress. They are however only a temporary solution as the beak grows around them or they fall off in time. I think the idea is the hen loses the urge to feather pluck by the time it falls off. Not in Flurry's case though I think there is a photo of one in the FAQ section. Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
