Eglu Go & guinea pig zippi run

[GreenGirl]

All

My 14 week buff sussex Hermione has a bit of a problem I think. Her tail has been ragged since we got her, but it has been getting worse this week so today cleaning the cube I picked her up to have a closer look.

 

She has a small bald patch next to her vent, and lots of new thick feathers coming through near it. There is a tiny cut near it as well. The feathers are quite matted and it almost looks like her poo is getting stuck in it

 

She is behaving fine, eating and running about, we have only had them a week so hard to tell any change in behaviour. She is not bottom of the pecking order at all, but Cressida does pick feathers out of her as she does with any of the others who walk past her

 

We have sprayed antipeck spray on them all, especially her, and she now has rather lurid violet fluffy knickers.

 

I am not sure what to do next, I couldnt see any red mite on her or the others or in the house, nor any lice (have done the necessary powders in the cube anyway). They were all wormed just before we got them, and nothing in the poos. She doesnt appear to have any particularly different poo patterns to the others.

 

Would it just be pecking from one of the others, or anything else I could look for? She is so sweet and doesnt mind be examined too much considering she has only been with us a week.

 

Amazing how attached you can become to them in such a short time and I am worried about her

[Egluntyne]

Sounds like it.

 

If the spray doesn't work, why not try a bumpa bit on the naughty one.

[GreenGirl]

Would the spray have worked by now if it was going to?

[Egluntyne]

How long have you been using it for?

[GreenGirl]

only today but as soon as I sprayed her she walked past Cressida who plucked her again!

[Egluntyne]

I'd keep it up for a day or two.

 

Has she got something to distract her in the run, such as a cabbage to peck at?

 

Might just help.

[GreenGirl]

I'll spray them again in the morning and hope she doesn't look any worse

They have half a cabbage hanging up which takes them about two hours to demolish, plus hidden treats and logs etc.

 

Will the bit break the habit, or does it literally stop them being able to do it?

[Egluntyne]

Will the bit break the habit, or does it literally stop them being able to do it?

 

In theory....a bit of both.

 

Some hens unfortunately, once the have got into the habit, can't be dissuaded.

 

The bumper bit should make it more difficult.

 

A friend of mine smears Vicks Vaporub on her hens if they are being pecked and swears by it.

 

I've never tried it myself.

[GreenGirl]

Thanks, I do hope Cressida will grow out of it then.

The vicks I might try, I love the smell of that Will let you know if it works with my girls!

 

Sorry, another question - where the feathers are a bit matted round her vent, should I cut them or will she clean them herself?

 

Thanks for all the advice, much appreciated

[Egluntyne]

Sorry, another question - where the feathers are a bit matted round her vent, should I cut them or will she clean them herself?

 

I'd be inclined to give them a bit of a wash with warm water and a few drops of ecover first.

 

If the feathers are still a bit grim after the wash, then I would trim them.