Single hen

[westleigh]

Well i think i have made up my mind and two of my girls have to move on as they have both taken to feather pecking and every thing i try hasnt stopped the problem,i have tried all the sprays including the violet one also stockholm tar but with no success,this has been going on for far too long now and its getting me down,never mind my poor cockerel who is the main target,im sure he will die if i dont act soon,a friend of mine has about 20 chooks that free range every day all day has said that he will have them,i really feel such a failure and very upset that i have to give them away do you think i am doing the right thing????

[Cooks]

oh that's a shame.

[westleigh]

i know,one is an ex batt and one is a black rock the ex batt milly has been with me a year and the black rock lady is about 5 months old,i wonder if the long winter has had anything to do with it as i have not had this problem before

[Guest]

do you think they might be doing it because they're bored? I don't know what your arrangements are; whether they free range all day or are in a run? If in a run, do they have enough space and enough things to keep them entertained, as such?

[Egluntyne]

Have you tried bumpa bits?

[westleigh]

they are in a ranch type run its about 5x5 mts so i think its big enough but maybe they are bored,i hang greens ect most days,im at my wits end in wondering weather i am doing the right thing

[westleigh]

no eglutine i havent tried a bumper bit as i would never be able to fit

[Guest]

well, it sounds like where they're going to is nice so don't feel guilty.

[Cooks]

I think it would be worth a try, I am sure someone on here could give you clear instructions on how to do it.

 

I want to get a couple in myself just incase, plus I have a friend who wants one, he has a lone bird (after fox attack) and wants to expand his girls but she is a known bully he says.

[Egluntyne]

no eglutine i havent tried a bumper bit as i would never be able to fit

 

Just a thought...the vet would be able to fit them for you.

[Cooks]

I'll pop over and help you if you would like, as long as someone gives me instructions, I dont mind doing it.

[westleigh]

today i decided to make a peck block,went and bought peanuts,mixed bird feed,corn and millet mixed in a hard toffee typ base,well the toffee crytalised when added to the grains and now i have two ton of mush on my hands(free to good home) dont laugh

[westleigh]

thanks for that cookie monster how kind of you,let me talk to him in doors and i will decide what i want to do,i will let you know regards j

[Lesley]

no eglutine i havent tried a bumper bit as i would never be able to fit

 

They are quite simple to fit - I think the Practical Poultry forum has photos.

[westleigh]

They are quite simple to fit - I think the Practical Poultry forum has photos.

do you know how long they stay in for i think i read that they fall out

[Groovychook]

The one I put on my girl has been in place for the past 4 months!

[miffy]

mine didnt last very long at all. At the moment they have only the bit that goes in their nostrils and across the beaks left, the "bit" became ineffective after afew weeks, I guess because they are biodegrdable. I have tried to get the rest off with no luck so am waiting for the rest to biodegrade. They did definatly help initially, but only for a coupleof weeks, but most folk seem to find them very effective. hope this helps. Good luck

[westleigh]

mine didnt last very long at all. At the moment they have only the bit that goes in their nostrils and across the beaks left, the "bit" became ineffective after afew weeks, I guess because they are biodegrdable. I have tried to get the rest off with no luck so am waiting for the rest to biodegrade. They did definatly help initially, but only for a coupleof weeks, but most folk seem to find them very effective. hope this helps. Good luck

ummmm cant decide what to do

[westleigh]

i did say earlier that thier run was 5x5mts well hubby tells me its about 3x3mts do you think its big enough for 10 chooks?

[Falkor]

Such a shame to hear that you are having problems.

 

When I lived on the farm with ex we had bumpa bits on a couple of the girls but it was I didn`t help fit them.

 

I can come over with Cookie and assist if you need extra hands if you decide to go down that root.

 

Re the run size I am not sure but I think it is 1m square per bird ???? Really not sure on that point so someone please correct me.

[westleigh]

yes that would be fine if i decide to fit those horrible things thanks for your offer,regarding the 3x3mtr space does that = 9 chooks?

[Falkor]

Yep 9, but if you have 10 in that space that still means each chook has 0.9m squared each so not that much less. I think the more space each chook has the better but the 1m thing is a rule i read relating to what you can class free range I think.

 

The bumpa bits cured our girls of the pecking and were only on for a month or so. I think after a month they unlearnt the behaviour or just realised life was so much simpler without all the bickering and stress.

 

I assume you have entertainment in their run?

[westleigh]

what entertainment was you thinking of palmer07

[fluffyknickers]

I dont need them (at the moment) but just interested - does anyone have a photo of a chicken in a bumper bit?

 

x

[Cooks]

I have things like cabbages, treat balls with meal worms in. scattered grit in the aubiose which they seem to love a lovely dustbath. Those sorts of things help keep them enterntained