Doris 12 Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 Help please, one of my girls is being bullied, the others are plucking away at her, she's starting to look like an ex bat! We have been spraying her with anti peck spray but it doesn't seem to be working. I have shut her in run on her own to keep the others away during the day. Could it be because they're bored? any advice on how to deal with this would be gratefully received. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickens Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 I'm having the same problem. At the moment I have one chicken in isolation with a very poorly set of wounds and the suggestion of gangrene. Never did I think I would be administering antibiotics to a chicken via a syringe down the throat!! She's chirpy enough and eating but it looks really bad. Her ex eglu-mate is not in my good books and I am currently tracking down a vet capable of debeaking her to stop her pecking if and when I reintroduce the victim - doesn't make you keen to put them back together though. Where did you get your anti peck spray from? Will keep you posted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 You could try Bumpa-bits, Wernlas has them. I've never used them but many on here have with good results. I think you just send them some stamps. Try googling 'Wernlas Collection'. Bit less drastic than de-beaking! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 when the girls wounds are ok, you could try taking the bully out & separating her for a while(if only 1) if they are ok together free ranging that would be good to keep them assoiciated soi to speak. trouble is they will keep pecking at a wound. Purple spray is often recommended for that. apparently yo can spray or shoot with water pistol the buly everytime she does it, but mine would wait till i wasn't looking. in the end a larger walk in run & a bale of straw for poor bullied girl to be behined has pretty much sorted it, though she doesn't sleep with them. putting cabbage apples etc in a wild bird fat feeder hanging keeps them occupied too & multipal feeding places. Mostly the bullying happens when guarding food! (for mine that is) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 Debeaking isn't really an acceptable option and I doubt you'd get a vet to do it. **Bumpa bits** should help. Ukadex spray is also very good. It stinks to high heaven, but is more effective than bog standard anti peck spray. Boredom busters such ad greens for them to peck at when confined to the run can also help alleviate the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 I agree with Eglutine about Ukadex, if you arent already using that brand of anti peck spray you should give it a go,....we tried everything with my evil pecker Maran and we got Ukadex and sprayed the pecked girl and the pecking stopped immediately. It really stinks so apply with old clothes on and gloves in a well ventilated area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 and tie your hair back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doris 12 Posted December 15, 2008 Author Share Posted December 15, 2008 Thanks I'll get some, where do you get it from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 If you are in surrey you can have squirts of mine, I think it was Merrydale Poultry no Regency, have a look at both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 got mine from Merrydale but they sting you for postage! (I was desperate though) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doris 12 Posted December 15, 2008 Author Share Posted December 15, 2008 crikey they do sting you for postage. Regency was just about the same. Still, needs must. Hopefully it will arrive within the next couple of days and we can sort the naughty girls out. Will let you know how we get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 good your'e sorted. Just be prepared for the smell.....its a very odd smell. A bit like "tobacco-ey vomit" Hold your nose! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 A bit like "tobacco-ey vomit" That is it exactly! I got the tobacco but couldn't quite put a name to the subtle undertones. Once smelt, never forgotten. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted December 16, 2008 Share Posted December 16, 2008 i didn't think it was too bad, as smells go, I have def smelt worse. A FLY trap!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doris 12 Posted December 18, 2008 Author Share Posted December 18, 2008 Ukadex arrived today, despite feeling somewhat under the weather, struggled down to the Hen House and sprayed away, You were NOT joking about the smell...my goodness. Had to jump in the shower and shove all my clothes in the washing machine after that. Left it an hour, went to have a spy on them, and Doreen is STILL plucking away at the others. Seperated her for the rest of day, had to send my son down to sort them out for the night as not up to it so not entirely sure what was going on, only got "Yes Mum They're fine, but they stink!!" Thinking that Doreen will have to go back to where she came from (if they'll have her) Are we not giving her enough time to mend her way's? Or is it best to get rid before she causes any more unpleasantness? Also, we've had our Girls since August, and while she has seemed to be in charge, she has been quite a sweetie, a good layer and seemingly a Happy Hen, what made her turn soooooo evil? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickens Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 Well its better news from me. Villie is on the mend although we are not out of the woods yet. She's such a love though - all that faffing and not one peck in our direction - which is probably how all this came about!! Spoke to a vet today and we had a chat about debeaking. He would do it for me but suggested that I try the bumpa bits first so I'm off to post my letter and stamps. He was also talking about spectacles that allow the bird to see sideways only, which apparantly makes pecking with any accurary a difficult pastime. Sounded a bit too kooky for my liking but hey I'm open to suggestions. Hope I don't have to go with the stinky stuff - fingers crossed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 i have heard that needing protein can make them pluck, as well as a habit.. or is she plucking natilky. then I reckonn bumper bits is your next course of action! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doris 12 Posted December 22, 2008 Author Share Posted December 22, 2008 Well a good few day's have passed now since they got sprayed with "Ukadex" and it does actually seem to have done the trick (fingers crossed) but my goodness that stuff is drastic!!! Not sure if I would be keen to use it again, felt so sorry for the poor things it made them a bit out of sorts, smell starting to disappear now finally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickens Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 Well our boxing date treat was to fit the bumper bits to Carole. Not the nicest thing to do but as they say 'remember why you are doing this in the first place'. She is currently 'clicking' around the garden. Villie is much better. Feathers growing back and becoming increasingly indignant and feisty when its antibiotics time. She has also put some weight on and her comb is growing nicely. Lets hope she is not seeking revenge when they get put back together!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 well done had one go & gave up, waited for Ucadex which didn't help my girl any. was going to try the bumper bit with someone to help, or get those circlip things, but not needed to yet. still hoping won't need to! chook was good though, it was me was pants got it between her beak, but couldn't get the bit apart enough to get in the nose holes even with soakking in the boiling water! I am impressed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickens Posted December 28, 2008 Share Posted December 28, 2008 Honestly it was easy with two of us - i could never have done it on my own - although afterwards we did have to go and look at the picture again to check it was right. I have started socialising the girls again and fingers crossed it seems to be ok. Carole did try a couple of pecks but i gave her a scuft with my glove and she backed off. In fact she seems to be a lot less agressive since as I think she has realised that it comes to nothing! Just as well as the nephews are arriving this week and i don't want them pecked to death!! Hope you stay on an even keel with yours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted December 28, 2008 Share Posted December 28, 2008 My OH would be next to useless! things are settling down, they spend most of there time in front of the fire spoilt my girls yeh.... bless em they deserve it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doris 12 Posted January 2, 2009 Author Share Posted January 2, 2009 Well I have to say the Ukadex certainly seemed to work and the pecking has stopped thank goodness. I suppose I would have to recommend this spray to anyone having a similar problem, but I cannot stress how revolting it is.l Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Oh good. It is vile though...most of us would agree with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doris 12 Posted January 4, 2009 Author Share Posted January 4, 2009 Just wondering how long it will take for Doris to grow her feathers back? she's pretty bare down her legs and underneath, not good when it is sooooooo cold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
