Patridge bantam chicken poorly foot?

[Babs&Ginger]

Babs, the dark destroyer is getting worse. She has now pulled loads of feathers out of poor Ginger's chest & she's down to the skin. I put the bumper bit back on her tonight & she's managed to pull it off twice!! I've got a very intelligent chicken obviously. Poor Ginger is scared witless of Babs & when she see's her ducking her head to have a pop at her, Ginger makes a run for it. Bumper bits are not the solution quite clearly. Babs is making quite a habit of pecking Ginger. We're in the process of making them a bigger run so if it's boredem with Babs, hopefully this will help. I've just ordered an anti peck ring from the domestic fowl trust & a pecka block....out of ideas now.....any suggestions!!!???

[The Brown Clan]

Poor Ginger , Babs sounds like a velosoraptor ( spelling ) rather than a chicken!!!!

Is Ginger bleeding if so you can order some gentian violet spray from the domestic fowl trust which masks the red( chickens are attracted to red ) in deep purple it can stain your clothes though , i just had to get some and some bumper bits folloing advice from other more experienced owners on the forum for my girls who were getting quite nasty with each other but since I put on the bumper bits they have calmed down. I hope they don't manage to get them off sorry can't be of more help than that I'm really new to this myself ,I'm sure someone will be along later to give you more Ideas

do you let your girls free range or is this only happening when in run ?

[Babs&Ginger]

it only happens in the run...they get on fine when they're out in the garden free range

[Babs&Ginger]

i've tried bumper bits & she can get them off in seconds, she's not put off by anti-pek spray, Ginger has been smothered in it & as soon as we put her back in the run, Babs pecked her. they've got a parrrot toy & they don't bother with it! she seems to be doing it for fun now. my last resort is building a walk in run to give them more space......if that doesn't stop it i don't know what else to do!! i just hope she doesn't start drawing blood....

[Egluntyne]

Are you sure you are putting the bumper bits in correctly? It is not common for them to be able to get them off so easily.

 

If you can spare the time, you could blast her with the hosepipe every time she attacks Ginger.

 

If you have any spare accommodation, a spell of solitary might break the habit.

 

There is always Ukadex to resort to. Smells evil but might do the trick.

[Steph101]

Bumpa bits never worked for me. They stayed on right, but we took them off in the end as it didn't make any difference, and they're weren't as many poos in the droppings tray, so it looked like they weren't eating as much! The anti peck spray didn't work either. The gentian violet is good for injuries, but stains everything. Also vet wound powder from the Domestic Fowl Trust. I've heard good reports about Ukadex, but like Eglutine says, everyone reckons it smells evil.

[Babs&Ginger]

i did try the bumper bit a few weeks ago but ended up taking it off because she couldn't eat the pelletts & corn, she could only drink...she's not the fattest of birds as it is!! if it carries on i'm going to have to invest in ukadex & an industrial mask!!! i'm sure i had the bumper bit in right, in her nostrils & the bit between her beak...it's a battle of wills to get it on aswell!! she's very fiesty!! i feel really sorry for ginger, i'm starting to feel like she's living like a battery hen at the claws of Babs. She's also much younger than Babs....her wattles haven't developed yet & babs's are almost fully grown & she's been laying for just ove a week now

[Abbey Road Girl]

I'm probably way out of my depth here, but couldn't you banish the aggressive hen to the equivalent of a naughty seat/stair?