Chicken Lady Posted October 16, 2008 Share Posted October 16, 2008 right - that's it. My feather-pecking bully of a Light Sussex has just pulled out all the tail feathers of my long-suffering Maran cross. I'm going to fit her with a beak attachment. However... have taken a look at both, and to my eyes the beak rings look a lot less intrusive. Has anyone got experience of both, and if so which is more effective? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peepie Posted October 16, 2008 Share Posted October 16, 2008 I've only use a bumper bit. Very hard to get on. You can't do by yourself but it worked and lasted about 3 months beofre falling off. I was hopign that would be an end to the bullying but it started again so I've had to replace it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chooks Aloud Posted October 17, 2008 Share Posted October 17, 2008 I've used bumper bits and they have done the trick. Two of mine had them on. They wear off after a while, the first chook this was all it needed and she no longer has one on. The second chook took a bit longer - well over a year, I just kept putting a new one on - she now is without one. If they start pulling feathers again I will have no hesitation in putting another one on. You can fit them by yourself, I have done several times, it becomes easier the more you do it, but obviously it is easier if you have 2 people. Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted October 17, 2008 Share Posted October 17, 2008 All 4 of mine have bumper bits all the time, we have one nearly bald chicken and another with a bald behind. They can still draw blood if determined enough. The other week my flighty White Star got some egg yolk on her from a softie that either her or one of the others had laid and the others went wild drawing blood very quickly. Fortunately we were around and rescued her cleaned her up and then purple sprayed her and they lost interest straight away. The bits do help though and I think they are much better than beak rings which seem to hold the beak open a long way and my White Star was beak clipped when we got her so she couldn't eat with a ring but can with a bit but we had to wait a year for her beak to grow back enough to fit her with one. in the mean time she had pulled out her own feathers and those of her fellow white chicken my Light Sussex. They have a bad habit an despite many hours freeranging each day they still do it I think that white feathers must taste better than brown because it is out white ones that are bald and they even pull out each others feathers you would think that they wouldn't if it was happening to them the trick to getting bumper bits in quickly is to have 2 people, one kneeling on the floor with the hen between their knees and holding her head firmly then the fitter just has to slip the cross piece in an upward direction under the top part of the beak then clip the bit into the nostrils. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJ's Chooks Posted October 17, 2008 Share Posted October 17, 2008 I use bumper bits and they seem to be ok but i replace them every 3 months or as soon as they drop off. our bottom ranked chook has not got one so she can hold her own with the other girls. They can still tug feathers but dont have as much grip. If you keep them in a jug of hot water they become softer and much easier to put on. one person holds the chook - wrapped in a towel or blanket so that they dont need to worry about feet or wings. they then hold the chook's head and can open the beak, whilst the other person slips it on... a bit tricky but does get easier the more you do.... make sure you get the ends into the top bit of their nostril and not just in the groove. they sneeze for a few minutes and try and wipe them off on the floor but they figure it out soon. if they do not drop off after 3 months they do get brittle and are easy to snap off and replace using the same 2 person technique. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted October 18, 2008 Share Posted October 18, 2008 I deduced that bumper bits were better from the fact that good chicken breeders like Wernlas not only recommend them but use them themselves. They have saved my sanity in the past, because I had a hen which progressed from pulling feathers to removing flesh. It's just not true that you can't fit bumper bits by yourself. I actually find it much easier by myself than with "help", because the helpers don't hold the hen properly or keep her still. But you have to be feeling quite cross with the hen while fitting it, as it gives you the determination you need to wedge her tightly under your weaker arm and use your weaker hand to grip her around the neck and hold her beak open. This leaves your stronger hand and arm completely free to fit the bit. It takes about 5 seconds in all. The prongs have to go right in the nostrils, otherwise the bumper bit will fall off. But get the bit inside the beak first, because you can't do that after you have fitted the prongs. At a cost of 10p, a bumper bit are worth a try. If you or the hen doesn't like it, you can take it out again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Lady Posted October 18, 2008 Author Share Posted October 18, 2008 this is all so helpful - thank you all for taking the trouble to reply. Bumper bit it is then. Reassuring that there's half a chance I might manage it on my own as dear hubby who is excellent on things like building chicken houses and putting up fences is a little squeamish when it comes to actually dealing with the feathered ones! thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
