4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[likeastar--x]

everyone starting to look a little healthier and happier, so thanks for all your previous advice, but i may just have to change my name to 'mostunluckychickenkeeperintheworld'

 

soon after we got her we realised that prim liked to eat feathers. weird, but harmless, seeing as hardly any feathers are dropped on the ground for her to eat.

 

then, two weeks after we got them, i just realised that saffy has loads of feathers missing! she was recently attacked by a fox (unscathed) but did lose a lot of feathers in the process, so she looked a bit ratty to begin with. then, today i saw prim actually yanking feathers out of her botty and eating them! this is strange as saffy is the top of the pecking order...

 

i feel guilty for not noticing until now (i dont really pick the big chickens up) and poor saffron doesnt look too happy with her vent exposed to the elements! im sure my omlet advisors could come up with some solutions for me?

 

EDIT:

Also to add that the feathers have been plucked and no remaining part of the feather is left. There is no blood, there are no wounds on her and otherwise she is a very happy chicken. they have a big run to free range in, so i presume its not boredom.

its only prim, and none of the banties have done it, or eaten any of the feathers.

[Egluntyne]

Why not try either spraying her victims with anti peck spray or fix a bumpa bit onto the naughty girl.

 

They are available for pence from the Wernlas Collection.

[Berkochicks]

Mrs Williamson does something similar. She doesn't choose anyone in particular and doesn't attack. Just as one of the others walk past she will peck off a feather and eat it. Strange behavior! She has plenty to eat and they free range all day so its not boredom.

 

No advice apart from the anti pecking.

 

Donna

[likeastar--x]

is a bumpa bit cruel? what does it do, does it wean them off pecking their mates? how long does it take to work?

 

 

i just realised there have been many similar posts made about this, but i wanted to ask specific to my situation, sorry!!

[Egluntyne]

They aren't cruel....the offending hen won't be impressed when you put it on, but she will get over it. You have to take an overview and do what is best for the whole flock.....and having a nasty bully damaging the other hens is far worse than having one hen with a bumpa bit.

 

It should work straight away as it prevents them getting a grip on the feathers, but doesn't stop them eating.

 

It may break the habit.......or you may have to apply another one when it wears out and drops off. It varies from hen to hen.

 

See **here**

[Snowy]

I've had to resort to the Ukadex spray which does seem to be effective - my knickerless girls have grown their knickers back. But beware that when it wears off, the pecking seems to have started again. Mine have been resprayed, but I've now noticed one of my other chickens suddenly looking a bit sp"Ooops, word censored!" in the knicker department, so it looks like the pecker has found another victim Trouble is I don't know who the pecker is at the moment

[likeastar--x]

so...if i use a bumpa bit, shell have to wear that her whole life here?? id rather take her back to be honest, shes only been here two weeks and we havent really bonded with her.

we'll try anti-peck spray to see if it helps, and the bumpa bit to see if it gets her out of the habit, and if it doesnt then i think we might swap her for a more friendly bird. id rather not though, so i will try everything before that

 

similarly, would they have to be sprayed with anti-peck spray their whole life? how long until it wears off?

[Egluntyne]

You have no guarantees of a more friendly bird if you do swap her I'm afraid. It is very much the luck of the draw.

 

Try the anti peck spray first, then the bumpa bit and see how you go.

[LJ's Chooks]

It really is no trouble to keep changing bumper bits, I change mine every 2-3 months, or they start to drop off.

 

If they are still in tact, you simply hold each side of the bit and snap it in half along the length of the beak. they are not troubled by this at all. (one person needs to be holding her securely though)

 

As long as two of you do it, the hardest thing about the whole process is catching them, but a tub of meal worms seems to do the job!

 

They really are not bothered by the bits and they do seem to help, as they do not appear to be able to injur the other chooks

 

I would not swap any of my girls, but we've definitely bonded... if you can swap her without an emotional bond, you may want to try, but you will need to have a introduction plan in place, you may not have bonded, but the other girls may have already.

 

good luck.

[helenmb]

I have noticed today one of my girls who has just started laying this week has been pecking one of my girl's knicker feathers and eating them. How are things going likeastar--x, is your girl still doing this, did you fit a bumpa-bit? I have just given her some tuna in case she is looking for a bit of extra protein. She hasn't done it previously - we have had her since the end of last October. I want to nip it in the bud asap. Sorry to hog your post too .

[chickencam]

All of mine have a tendency to feather peck, it started when we intruduced the 2 white girls, I think white feathers must taste good.

 

All of mine have bits, they can can still cause damage if really determined, but it keeps them under control. We had an incident with Dippy getting egg yolk on her feathers and the other tried to eat her alive, we had to wash her quick

[likeastar--x]

I have noticed today one of my girls who has just started laying this week has been pecking one of my girl's knicker feathers and eating them. How are things going likeastar--x, is your girl still doing this, did you fit a bumpa-bit? I have just given her some tuna in case she is looking for a bit of extra protein. She hasn't done it previously - we have had her since the end of last October. I want to nip it in the bud asap. Sorry to hog your post too .

 

 

Weve now put Stockholm Tar (which STINKS) on the sore bits on her skin and sprayed anti peck spray over her knickers. i havent seen her doing it recently and it doesnt look like she still is, but if its only the knicker feathers she likes she may not want any others now they are all gone, so well have to wait and see when they grow back if theres any improvement. im still reluctant about fitting a bumpa bit but have now decided i dont want to return her.

 

well have to see how it goes thanks for advice