Single hen

[likeastar--x]

Ive only found a couple of sources and 2 poor pictures of bumpa bits on a chicken, and were finding it quite hard to put one on Primrose. We must be quite bad at doing it because all these sources insist upon how easy it is to do , but weve now tried twice with no success, except stressing her out and nearly suffocating her with the thing in her mouth and a puncture on her beak! Some of the articles say the bit goes in the bottom of the nostril, some at the top, and some say it goes INSIDE the nostril! Fair to say we are baffed...

 

Right now im assuming:

 

The curvy bit in the middle goes INSIDE the beak.

The end part goes outside the beak.

The part at the top fits into the top end of the nostril snugly.

 

Am I right in assuming this? Does anyone have a good quality picture of their chicken with the bit on? Thanks x

[LJ's Chooks]

there is one on here somewhere....

 

Heat them up in hot water first and take them to the chook in the hot water.... dont take them out until you are ready... makes it much easier.

 

catch the chook and wrap it in a towel which alows you to hold her firmly in your legs and then hold her head and encourage her to open her mouth. Then the other person puts it on ...

 

wavy bit in the mouth and the prongs into the nostril... it sounds awful, but it is better than pecking. They will still be able to go for feathers but just cant grip or peck to damage with their beak.

 

They will shake their heads and sneeze for a few mins and then forget about it.

 

good luck...

[LJ's Chooks]

oh found it... its in the about poultry health and there is a definitive guide to bumper bits on there....

[Christian]

Here you go -

 

viewtopic.php?f=41&t=22584

 

Good luck with it.

[likeastar--x]

Yeah, thats the topic ive seen, It wasnt the actual controlling the chicken and putting the bit on part that was the problem, but more where on earth its supposed to go when inside the nostril. The pictures appear to show 2 chickens with the bit applied to the lower part of the nostril, whereas the description tells you to put it in the upper part! Helllp!

[sugarspice]

we have a with a bumper bit on and it took us a couple of attampts to get it on. when we got it on she tried to scratch it off. after about 10 days we took it off but she started feather pecking again so we refitted another 1 but this time in the bottom nostrills. this way is much better as she can eat much easier and its now been on for 6 weeks and she doesnt mind it at all. she has completely stop the bullying so she will always have it on.

[sandyhas3chucks]

now am I being REALLY REALLY thick.

Bottom nostrils? top?

mine have only got 2... 1 each side!????

[LJ's Chooks]

It should go in the top of the nostril, there is a flap of skin over the top, then a hole, then the lower nostril is a groove.... it needs to be at the top under the skin flap otherwise they drop off if you only put it in the groove.

 

You will know when it is in the top section as it almost clicks into place and if you gently hold the bit that goes in front of the beak, it does not pull off.

[urbanchick]

Hi, here are a couple of pics, not as good as the ones in the link Christian gave, but if you look at the original size photo (select sizes: O under picture) then you can have a really close look. Note, the bits are oversized as I was sent the wrong ones.

 

http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/2402682_hxPRd/1/278379753_jatPb/Medium

http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/2402682_hxPRd/1/278379792_7fuSr/Medium

 

I think the idea is for the wavy bit in the middle of the bit to stop the hen's beak closing completely (so unable to pluck) and for the "bumper" bit to stop them "stabbing" at other hens. That's how mine seemed to work anyway.

My tip would be to make sure you get it far enough back in the nostrils as others have said, not under the flap of skin.

 

Good luck!

[likeastar--x]

Thanks and thanks urbanchick we tried again yet ANOTHER time...and everyone is talking about this flap of skin we tried putting it at the bottom of the nostril but it didnt look right so we moved it up to the top. It hasnt fallen off yet, but I dont know if this is done properly. She looks pretty happy with it on, at least shes not trying to pull it off anymore, and little saffron is enjoying not being the centre of constant attack, but apparently they can learn to pull the feathers off when they regrow because the shaft of them is very thick and easy to pick we'll just spray with anti peck anyway.