Maccbean Posted September 15, 2008 Share Posted September 15, 2008 Is there an acceptable amount of bullying I should expect, or should I act on it straight away? Rita, one of my legbars seems to be getting a bit from one or two of the chickens, and each day there are a few feathers in the run, not loads, but enough to notice. Rita is definitely the last in the pecking order, but feeds and socialises OK. Which leads to my second question. When I bought my "supplies" recently, I also purchased a bottle of Gentian Violet (although, I've absolutely no idea as to why I bought it, doh !). However, I saw on one of the boards recently you can spray it to stop pecking. The only problem I see, is that I would end up with a purple chicken, as pumped the spray to get it going yesterday and now have purple splodges all over my hands that I can't even scrub off. Would it be right to leave a chicken purple, and how much would I spray if I did? Or should I go and buy something else less, um......violet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 15, 2008 Share Posted September 15, 2008 Why not try Tea Tree Spray....tastes vile apparently, and doesn't stain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted September 16, 2008 Share Posted September 16, 2008 only on your hands? how clever & managed to spray paint my shirt too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted September 16, 2008 Share Posted September 16, 2008 Why not try Tea Tree Spray....tastes vile apparently, and doesn't stain. Don'tr know if I've asked this here? but if it tastes vcile what about the poor hen preening itself? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 We tried everything (tea tree, purple spray, mustard!) and the only thing that stopped pecking was ukadex spray. It smells absolutely disgusting but it works! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maccbean Posted September 17, 2008 Author Share Posted September 17, 2008 only on your hands? how clever & managed to spray paint my shirt too Yeah but I didn't actually spray anything with mine, just pumped it to prime it. Never to be used again me thinks. I've got some tea tree oil to try instead. then I'll try the ukadex, I don't think we're dealing with a big bullying problem! Anyone know what I can do with a bottle of gentian violet?!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 keep it you will need it sometime! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 Why not try Tea Tree Spray....tastes vile apparently, and doesn't stain. Don'tr know if I've asked this here? but if it tastes vcile what about the poor hen preening itself? I suppose the same would apply with Ukadex, Bitter Beak and Anti Peck Spray. My friend swears by Vicks Vaporub. If we are all barking up the wrong tree, and hens can't after all taste much, perhaps something seriously smelly is the answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 We tried everything (tea tree, purple spray, mustard!) and the only thing that stopped pecking was ukadex spray. It smells absolutely disgusting but it works! I am intrigued as this comment comes up quite a lot....what does it smell of? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 The contents of a really old ash tray multiplied by a thousand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
