nicolaf Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Hi I have come in today to a bald bottom or one of our pepperpots and 2 of the gingernuts looking very pecked. The other pepperpot is the naughty one but having read a few posts I have a few questions: What does the tuna help with? Does separation of the naughty one help or make it worse? Is the plucking to do with oil or protein deficiencies? if so what should I give little miss naughty? Cod Liver oil or Olive Oil? Ukadex or Bumper Bits? I have read that bumper bits can be considered cruel? Many thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Tuna contains protein so is good for regrowing the feathers but if the hens are plucking them out it wont help until you solve that problem Not sure about the separation as if you separate a hen she goes in lower in the pecking order however it is not always the top hen that is pecking Cod liver oil unless you are a millionaire! Ukadex before bumpa bits (which arent cruel) but Ukadex stinks so try purple spray first to cover the red bums, that might help descourage the pecking, it all depends on how advanced the situation is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budgies Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Feather plucking used to be associated with deficiencies, but now that our hens have layers pellets or meal available to them all the time, their intake is perfectly balanced with regards to their needs. Feather pecking is much more frequently a symptom of boredom or overcrowding than it is a sign of deficiencies nowadays. Some people hang cabbage leaves or greenery in the run for the girls to jump a little way and peck at, others have used mirrors or treat balls to try and give the hens something to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicolaf Posted June 9, 2009 Author Share Posted June 9, 2009 Thanks for the thoughts... They are free range 9/10 of the time with one of the metal treat balls that are filled with lettuce from Omlet. They are in a cube plus 2 extensions (for 5 hens) so didnt think they were overcrowded or bored. Not sure that it is the top hen doing the pecking? There isnt any red bits at present just a lot of bare skin - will the purple spray still help as she isnt the only one being pecked (but is the only one with no knickers at present or just go straight for the Ukadex? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moochoo Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 I have to say that I've been through all this with my girls. The free range for several hours a day. They have a lovely walk in run with lots to entertain them and still I had problems with 4 out of my 10 feather pulling and eating. One rougue chook started it and a few followed. I took decisive action and bumper bitted the 4 naughty girls only to notice that they were all up to it. They're all bitted now and the feathers are re-growing beautifully. The bumper bits are not cruel but you have to desensitise yourself from the feeling you're putting them though something bad. It's for the health and happiness of your birds. Good luck with sorting them out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 How do bumper bits work and where do I get them from, three of mine have bald bums and i can't work out who the culprit is! There quills seem to be broken, it looks as tough they need a shave! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moochoo Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 Bumper bits are a device that sits over the beak and stops the bird from grabbing the feathers and pulling. You can get them from the Wernlas collection www.wernlas.co.uk If you ring them up they'll exchange postage stamps for bits as the only cost a few pence each. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MargaretSB Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 I have had a similar problem with mine. Two girls are fully feathered whilst the other 5 have a variety of bald patches. It seemed to be started by one of the Miss Pepperpots and what she pulled out three of the others would fight over to eat. I put a bumper bit on her and was pleased to see the others growing their feathers back. The habit seems to have spread to others as after removing her bit after a month, I noticed she had bald patches and bald patches had reappeared on the others. I now have bumper bits on 3 of the other girls (the Ukadex didn't seem to work even with repeated sprayings as they seemed prepared to put up with the taste the day after being sprayed and I couldn't face spraying them every day). They have a 9x9ft walk in run plus the cube run and extension, hanging treats, logs, branches and free range all afternoon. I think it might have initially been boredom as it started before we got the WIR but must now be habit. I despair every time I see one gobbling a feather as I don't particularly like the bits, though they do settle down and accept them very quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 Bumper bits are the only solution in my experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted June 26, 2009 Share Posted June 26, 2009 They worked for my naughty girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 26, 2009 Share Posted June 26, 2009 Ditto. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
