Patridge bantam chicken poorly foot?

[GreenGirl]

This evening we attempted to fit the bumperbit to Cressida, as the Ukadex hasn't done anything than make me feel ill and make their feathers brown and sticky.

 

I thought doing when she was a bit dozy might make it easier, all I can say is I dread to think what it would have been like if she hadnt been sleepy

 

We wrapped her in a large towel, and after soaking the bit in hot water, with the assistance of some circlip pliers thought we would do it. DH was a bit scared of hurting her, but she really flapped and managed to wriggle her wings out, and even though I was holding her head she somehow managed to shrink her neck into itself, she obviously has some sort of slinkytoy-like ability

 

I just couldnt get her beak open and put the bit in so we gave up, I was worried about her getting stressed, although I think we broke before she did

 

Any suggestions, please

[Egluntyne]

Maybe get the vet to do it?

[Olly]

No suggestions, just sympathy - this sounds very similar to my experience, although I didn't have any circlip pliers. I've found some to borrow, and I'm going to try again. when I can persuade a friend to come and help me. I did exactly what you did - waited till bedtime, wrapped in a towel etc. but I just couldn't get the prongs wide enough to go in her nostrils.

 

I know some people on here say that they've fitted them single-handed. I take my hat off to those people - I just couldn't do it! Egluntine's suggestion has occurred to me, a vet would probably do it really quickly. I'm going to have one more try ...

[urbanchick]

It took me a few attempts to get one in our chicken, only for her to swipe it off again - 3 times! I hadn't put the prongs far enough back in her nostrils. Eventually I got it right. You have to be very firm about it, if you do it "carefully" you are more likely to fail. Once you've succeeded though it's a piece of cake to do it again. Keep trying

[MadMitch]

I'm having the same problem. Tried for ages with Gwyneth yesterday and she kept shaking her head or tucking it out of the way, like you I gave up so as she was getting stressed. I tried to be firm but still being new to this I don't really know how tight you can hold a chickens head, they seem so fragile once you get under the feathers.

[theherd123]

How about and anti-peck ring?

I find them easier to fit than bumber bits.

 

I know they dont really reduce the stabbing with the beak however the feather pulling stopped with mine more or less right away.

[Lewis]

When we first got our girls they were a bit pecky, so I bought some anti-peck rings and they were quite good.

I had to do it myself as they "are my chickens", basically I had to fight to get chickens, and now everyone loves them!

but...

If you sit with your knees on the floor, with the chicken in between your legs you wont have to struggle with flapping. You can then use your left hand to try and open the beak, and use your right hand to try and to put the bit in.

 

It worked for me and thats how I was showed to tube feed labs aswell