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

[legend21]

Hi All last night I just received my ex bats and at least one of them is pulling out her feathers, I have read about a bumper? to stop it dont know what it is can anyone help and can anyone tell me any home made remedies they look quite pathetic to start with and I dont know if it hurts them

 

thanks

[Egluntyne]

You could try spraying them with some dilute tea tree oil as the taste is rather unpalatable and might just stop it.

 

You could but come Anti Pek spray at the petshop.

 

Article about Bumper/Bumpa bits**here**

[legend21]

Thanks Eglutine, will start with the anti peck spray and it looks easier than the bumpa bit

[Peaches]

Good luck with the spray. And keep us up to date on how things go with the ex-batts. I have all of one-month's experience of them, so feel quite the expert now

 

Fiona

[legend21]

Hi All, I have let them free range as much as possible and they are loving it no more pulling feather out , however the one that was pulling feathers out the most has now taken to bullying the other girls, when they are in the run. I have just left them to it, myself and OH are in love with them it is ridiculous. They six girls have laid five eggs eachday.

[dancing cloud]

Don't worry, the bullying does settle down once they realise there's plenty of food and water for everyone, and the pecking order is established. Good to hear the feather-pulling has stopped - it may just have been a stress reaction to all the changes.

 

There's something very special about ex-batts and they really do grab your heart very quickly

[Steve.]

One of my chooks is almost totally bald - very embarrassing - she seems happy enough but I have caught her eating her own feathers.

 

We feed them layers + b.bran + garlic + chicken spice + grit, so at a loss of what they are missing diet-wise.

 

Oh, they all have bumpa-bits but somehow still manage to pull feathers.

 

Very distressing - though they seem to be happy ...

[legend21]

Steve, It is almost a case of too scared to say anything incase I jinx it, but they seem to be settling down although they are establishing who will be head girl. I looked at the bumpa bits on line but they look too hard to put on. I know the pulling out and eating feathers can be addictive for them but I get upset just at the thought of them doing that to themselves. When they are fighting I tell myself it is better than were they were.

 

regards

[dancing cloud]

Steve, you could try putting a bit of bitter apple on the feathers of the one that's pulling them out (the stuff you put on children's nails to stop them biting them). I know hens have strange tastes, but I don't think she'd want to eat her feathers if they were coated in that!

[Steve.]

I've tried everything Ukadex the purple spray and a antipeck spray

 

Enid only has a few feathers left.

 

[Egluntyne]

Have you checked her over for lice and mites?

 

I wonder if she has de-pluming mite.....this microscpic beastie irritates them so much that the pull their own feathers out.

 

Try dunking her in a bath with a dog shampoo containing pyrethrum. *not licensed for use on poultry in UK. Strictly speaking you should withdraw her eggs for a couple of days.

 

It might be worth upping her protein and calcium intake too, to help her re-feather.

[Steve.]

Have you checked her over for lice and mites?

 

I wonder if she has de-pluming mite.....this microscpic beastie irritates them so much that the pull their own feathers out.

 

Try dunking her in a bath with a dog shampoo containing pyrethrum. *not licensed for use on poultry in UK. Strictly speaking you should withdraw her eggs for a couple of days.

 

It might be worth upping her protein and calcium intake too, to help her re-feather.

 

Thank you Egluntine.

 

Would it make sense to wash them all?

 

Do I need to clean anything out in the cube/run?

 

Would a non-chicken based cat food be okay for protein?

[Egluntyne]

 

Would it make sense to wash them all?

 

You may as well. I imagine if one has it ( and I'm only guessing) they all might. Give them a good saturating to make sure the skin is soaked. Perfect weather for doing the job as they will dry quickly. They will look miserable for a short while....and will smell heavenly afterwards.

 

Do I need to clean anything out in the cube/run?

 

I'd give it a good wash....with the shampoo whilst you are at it. Ant powder also contains pyrethrum *Not licensed for use on poultry in UK so you could dust the nooks and crannies with that.

 

Would a non-chicken based cat food be okay for protein?

Yes....but don't tell DEFRA. Chick crumbs would give them a protein boost too.

 

 

I hope it does the trick.