kaylis1980 Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 (edited) i thought things had been too easy from the beginning it seemed clear that daisy was head honcho, then matilda, then ruby. well now im having problems, up until the weekend they all had really good regrowth- now all of matildas has been pecked out along with some lumps of flesh, and brusies too. why on earth would this be starting now?? matilda is the most vocal and when she starts her bok bok squalk ive seen daisy go and give her a peck, but thats it- i have no idea who is pecking- probably both of the others. i was trying to search what the awful tasting spray was but i cant find it- and im not sure if genitian violet would be the same?? i dont really want to seperate her at the moment as the other day i seperated her for about 5 minutes so i could catch her and look at the damage (i was just suspecting at that point as the wound isnt viewable until you move feathers) and when i put her back in they pecked at her on her head that time when i let her back. any help would be appreciated. Edited June 26, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 Oh you poor thing, what a worry! Am afraid I can't help as am chickless... am sure some will be along very soon...... is teatree oil the horrid tasting stuff?? hope they settle and you have a better day.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 Sorry to hear you've got some problems Sarah. Gentian violet will help as it's mildy antiseptic and will disguise any blooded areas that the chooks will be drawn to. Ukadex is the really horrible smelling spray - Regency Poultry sell it as "anti peck spray". You may have to resort to bumper bits for a while until it all settles down again. It's just a guess but maybe as they are finding their feet and gaining confidence it's started pecking order issues. Hope you get it sorted soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaylis1980 Posted June 26, 2008 Author Share Posted June 26, 2008 thanks for the advice- yeh thats the pecking stuff i meant. i thought briefly of bumper bits and figured i would try this first of all, as its not a long going problem (yet ) and as these are my first chickens, i dont know how confident i would be fitting them anyway here is a (bad) picture but you can kind of see what i mean... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 It seems to be around her preen gland. Have you checked her carefully for lice or other lodgers. She may be doing it to herself if there is something irritating her. Tee Tree Spray tastes vile and has soothing and antiseptic properties. Why not give that a try. I got mine from an equestrian shop. It cost around 4 quid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaylis1980 Posted June 26, 2008 Author Share Posted June 26, 2008 the other day i got hold of her and gave her a quick once over and didnt see anything, the skin though is exceptionally dry- i dont know if thats normal, but it feels like... well like sandpaper... im pretty sure - in fact almost definate that its one of the others pecking her because of where the wounds are, and the angle i dont think she could do it. i think i have some tea tree in the house, do i put it on neat or diluted?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hils78 Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 Sand paper feeling (talking as a vet nurse) could be mites. I have absolutely NO experience at work with poultry & have limited personal experience too. But on small furry animals the skin can be flakey/dry & inflamed & v itchy... ...or it could be the others having a go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaylis1980 Posted June 26, 2008 Author Share Posted June 26, 2008 i just got hold of her again- which is no mean feat let me tell you. i wrapped her up in a towel and brought her in, i checked the base of the feathers and saw nothing except dry skin and feather stumps. i did take some more pictures so you can see the extent of damage, im leaning towards taking her to the vet- but i dont know any avian vets near here. i just sprayed her with a load of tea tree spray and she seemed to like that- although once she smelt it she had a shudder and bok bok here she is after she had had her spray- this is actually the first time she has ever stayed on me without me holding down her wings- so it must have felt nice. edit to add- please ignore my humungous ironing pile!! closer up http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v461/ham3plus1/DSCF2415.jpg i think the sandpaper feel is actually the quills regrowing etc. but the skin is very very dry. its basiclly that plucked chicken effect bumping. it does seems strange that its only her new feathers that are plucked though- do they come out easier?? thankyou for bearing with me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 They get into the habit of plucking out new feathers as they have a good blood supply and taste nice to them. Once they have started this it's a hard habit to break. I'd get bumper bits on the others, spray her with Ukadex and be prepared to spray any offenders int he face with some water when you see them pecking. Poor love, a good wash with some diluted tea tree oil will help any irritation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaylis1980 Posted June 26, 2008 Author Share Posted June 26, 2008 i was afraid someone would say that im scared of the bumper bits, but needs must. i know i get them from wernlas, but how many stamps do i give?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 Give them a ring and ask I got 10 and I think they worked out about 10p each. You will need 2 people to fit the bits one to hold the chook, they will also need to hold her head still then the trick is to get the flat part into the beak first then the rest tends to follow with a bit of a tweak into the nostrils. It is quite daunting to do the first time but not so bad as you may think Good luck we have had quite a bit of feather pulling and damage and my White Star plucks herself but definately has no mites. I envy other peoples lovely fluffy hens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 Very quick reply as hens are freeranging in garden with young son There is a vet up near you - go up towards Chelmsford and you want John Matthews 01245 353741, he was great with Milly. They are not far from Great Baddow - past Stock and on the main road after the A12 roundabout. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMO Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 Someone on another post recommended circlip plyers to put on the bumber bits. I tried this method and it worked a treat. You can get them from Halfords for about £6. The plier end is angled so you can fit a bumper bit on, when you squeeze the handle the pliers open so it makes it easier to get the bumper bit in place and then just let the pressure off the handle to release the bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 It is quite daunting the first time but be determined and dont put up with any nonsense - they're tougher than they look! Have a glass of wine ready for after Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 If you drop the bumper bits in hot water for a minute or so, it will become more pliable and easier to work with. Poor girl. She does look sore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaylis1980 Posted June 26, 2008 Author Share Posted June 26, 2008 do you think its worth my while getting 3 and fitting her with one just in case she is doing it to herself and im not seeing?? im going to send off to wernlas tomorrow. how long do they usually take to send back?? i will also buy some genitian violet and some yukky spray- im not sure of where to get locally so i think i will have to get on the internet. she has had a coating of tea tree for now, and i will do the same until i can treat her properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 I'd put bumper bits on all of them just to be safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 Got similar problem & saw this on the website. Lord only knows why pot is so big! Anyone in Surrey is wellcome to share it for free. Stinks & looks awful. Bathed it off as was worried abot her ingesting it but another forium moderator reassured me. So went for it again. Just less & more careful only on her poor we saor butt! Seems to be doing the trick, aparently you can get it in spray form also. It really stinks thoug smells like coal tar only stronger & looks like runny tar! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 Can get a bad skin reaction, especially on already inflamed skin,so use very diluted Be gtreat anti peck maybe..Wish I'd thougfht of it, the antri peck stuff from Pets at Home tastes like nail bite stuff! Yes I DID wash my hands after!, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 What are these? spose I should go do a search! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 Matilda looks just like our poor little brown nick Delia, only worse. We noticed that after Delia's moult she started to grow back feathers but they never seemed to continue until she looked back to normal. Eventually we put a bumper bit on the bullying feather pecker Hazel and all was well within two weeks. The bumper bit fell off after two months and she hasn't learnt her lesson!! Another bumper bit is on the way!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaylis1980 Posted June 27, 2008 Author Share Posted June 27, 2008 i sent off to wernlas today- and i have been phoning up all pet shops/supplys locally to get some peck spray etc and "Ooops, word censored!"ody has heard of it or doesnt know!!! my friend is a horsy lady and has some tar so i am going to go collect some and smear it on her and hope that works until i get the spray/bumper bit- as she looks even worse this morning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Its called Nibble deterent .... Deters birds from pecking & plucking! names of makers SHAWS. Found it by budgie & Parrot stuff in Pets At Home. I rather feel the tar is good as it disguises the red bits which in turn attract pecking. It really is horrid sticky going stuff apply sparingly.. should do the trick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Very quick reply as hens are freeranging in garden with young son There is a vet up near you - go up towards Chelmsford and you want John Matthews 01245 353741, he was great with Milly. They are not far from Great Baddow - past Stock and on the main road after the A12 roundabout. John is great he keeps chickens himself so would probably fit bumper bits to show you how to do it. The surgery is called Clarendon House and it's almost next to the Running Mare pub. (Well everyone knows the pubs don't they!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Very quick reply as hens are freeranging in garden with young son There is a vet up near you - go up towards Chelmsford and you want John Matthews 01245 353741, he was great with Milly. They are not far from Great Baddow - past Stock and on the main road after the A12 roundabout. John is great he keeps chickens himself so would probably fit bumper bits to show you how to do it. The surgery is called Clarendon House and it's almost next to the Running Mare pub. (Well everyone knows the pubs don't they!) Didn't know he kept them himself as well He seemed to know what he was talking about and actually have an interest in hens That makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
