Patridge bantam chicken poorly foot?

[urbanchick]

About 6 months ago I fitted a bumpa bit to my Miss Pepperpot as she had plucked the bottoms of my 2 gingernuts bare. It was very effective and the feathers on one of them grew back, the other one is still bare and I don't think they'll ever return

 

Anyway, I noticed that some of the chickens have some feather loss, especially Henny, the one at the bottom of the pecking order, who has lost feathers from her neck and wings. Then I saw that Mavis' bumpa bit had gone. I have now seen her pecking Henny (and the others) if there are treats around or they are both at the grub or glug.

 

Do I fit another bumpa bit? Or do I wait for her beak to "wear down" again - how long would this take?

 

p.s. is it normal / acceptable to not like one of your chickens!?

[Helen&Lee]

 

p.s. is it normal / acceptable to not like one of your chickens!?

 

I think it's acceptable - I have one chook, Bertha who doesn't 'bok bok' she just has what I call a 'loud moaning call'. I often hear her about 6.30am - much, much earlier if I shut the cube door, and if I'm at home she moans throughout the day and more if she catches sight of me.

 

At the height of summer she was shouting at 5.15am. I've decided if she is like it next summer she is going to my local farmer to join his flock...

 

Anyway, no experience of a bumper bar, but I have used an anti peck ring because of a similar problem. I had one I thought the feathers weren't going to grow back on and finally 6 months later the bald patch is getting smaller....

[chelsea]

 

p.s. is it normal / acceptable to not like one of your chickens!?

 

Can totally relate to this.

 

Yes, I dislike our maran. I've never really warmed to her from day one but she is our most reliable layer and a healthy girl whose never been broody so I cant really complain.

 

1 week ago I was so stressed out with her bullying/pecking of Ella (our old girl) that if the Ukadex spray didnt work she was going and I was going to get hubby to give her away to one of his chicken keeping friends. Luckily for her and my sanity the ukadex worked.

 

I know how you feel.

[GreenGirl]

I know what you mean, I tried (unsuccessfully) to fit a bit this week to Cressida, she keeps picking on the others even though she is middle of the pecking order - inferiority complex i think! DH keeps saying she is for the pot, I wouldn't do that at all but I do find myself not warming to her as much as I have the others.

 

PS - how did you get the bit on?

[The Brown Clan]

Know what you mean mine all still at it , 2 of them look nearly oven ready at the back and one of the culprits looks like a show chicken compared to the others

 

all whilst wearing the bumpa bits they have worked out that if they use a sideways motion they can still get to the feathers !!!

 

have also tried anti peck spray , purple spray ,and uxadex as well as greens hung up lots of free ranging and more than one feed station !!!

 

Guess i've got to hope they get bored with it soon

 

don't know what else to try

[urbanchick]

I'm glad I'm not the only one. Everyone who sees my chickens loves "the black one" but she is so horrible to the others. Even with the bumpa bit on she would "stab" the others with her new plastic beak

 

Can you just fit another bumper bit on as soon as the first one's fallen off?

[Helen&Lee]

As I said, I have no experience with bumper bits, but I am sure I have read that they fall off because the beak has grown longer - and you have to leave them a while to let the beak wear down then refit another.

[Chooks Aloud]

Bumper bits eventually wear away and fall off. What I do when this happens is I gently file my chooks beak down with an emery board/sandpaper to an acceptable rounded size and then fit another bit if she continues to peck the others.

 

Karen

[AJuff]

I put another straight back on my columbine Hazel. She's an evil hen who rules the roost with a reign of terror. I cannot warm to her at all . . . yet I loved my other hens the day we got them!!