urbanchick Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 (edited) I have come to the end of the road with my Miss Pepperpot and her bullying. Mavis is one of my first hens and was a problem from early on with pecking the other 2 Omlet hens. A bumpa bit worked that time and I put another one in her when I got my ex batts in March last year. She is a huge bully even when not able to peck. We thought we had integrated our 3 new hens successfully a few weeks ago, then I noticed they were all being pecked around the base of their tails (defintely by her as the other older hen has a bumpa bit). The last straw came last week when she was responsible for the death of my beloved amber star, who had just started to lay. We have pieced the events of that morning together and I am pretty sure she had a prolapse or some damage that triggered the bully to basically peck her intestines out and we had to put her out of her misery. Mavis has since been in solitary confinement as we went away for 4 days and I could not possibly leave her in with the others. Over the last month I have tried and failed half a dozen times to get a bumpa bit fitted. I have successfully fitted several over the last couple of years on her and other hens so know how to do it, but she has a particularly long beak and for some reason she flicks it off within minutes. It's very frustrating and I can't see what I'm doing wrong - I have tried very hard to make sure it's far enough back in her nostrils but maybe her physiology just makes it impossible. I even tried a bigger size. It is not an option to use anti peck sprays as it is a permanent problem and needs a permanent solution. She is just nasty and I cannot let her rejoin the others. It is cruel to keep her on her own and I have no idea how I would rehome an individual bullying hen. I can't see an alternative to having her put down. Any advice welcome. Edited September 3, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alih Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 I am very sorry to hear about your predicament...is there anywhere near you you can take her to (eg a farm?) where she would be part of a bigger flock and put in her place by a cockerel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 29, 2009 Share Posted August 29, 2009 I have some longer bumperbits somewhere. Would you like me to send you a couple? Pm me if you would. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbanchick Posted August 29, 2009 Author Share Posted August 29, 2009 Thanks but I've already tried the 30 mm ones and they still don't stay in. It may be something about her nostrils which seem quite long compared to the others. I am going to try again today but she is so wise to it that she won't let me anywhere nearher and I couldn't catch her last time I tried. I tried some farms but they didn't want to adopt a hen. I'm in the Bournemouth/Poole area if anyone knows of a place to try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted August 29, 2009 Share Posted August 29, 2009 How about the bit rings from the Domestic Fowl Trust? they go around the top part of the beak so the beak length doesnt matter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbanchick Posted August 29, 2009 Author Share Posted August 29, 2009 I don't think the beak ring will stop her stabbing the others though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted August 29, 2009 Share Posted August 29, 2009 The cockerel idea sounds good. My in-laws have a cockerel who sorts out problems amongst the girls. Is there anybody in your area who has a cockerel who could take her? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legend21 Posted August 29, 2009 Share Posted August 29, 2009 perhaps you should just have her put down, poor little amber, why should one chicken be allowed to cause so much misery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckielorz2001 Posted August 29, 2009 Share Posted August 29, 2009 I am sorry that you are having a testing time. I am in exactly the same predicament as you, and unfortunately I have lost a few to bullying. I tried bumper bits as you, and I found that instead of pulling feathers, they continually pecked the same spot until it got sore. The only option I had was to separate the two bullys for each other (As they were the two that were left) and I have had an offer from a place nearby who will take them and they will live in a larger group, totally free range. Im sorry this does not offer an ideal solution for you, but for me, this was all I had left. I wish you every luck in trying to solve this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted August 29, 2009 Share Posted August 29, 2009 I think PTS rather drastic, I am sure somewhere will take her, as said already in a larger flock, perhaps with a lad! try some small petting farms or places that have free range eggs for sale signs. Ask at a couple of vets! Some stables also have chooks, strueth there must be tons of places in the New Forest! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbanchick Posted August 30, 2009 Author Share Posted August 30, 2009 Thanks for your opinions, I will continue to try other farms and vets, etc. but it is bank holiday so no one is answering phones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 You could try putting her in solitary for a couple of weeks so that she 'unlearns' her bad habits and goes back into the flock at the bottom of the pecking order. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbanchick Posted August 30, 2009 Author Share Posted August 30, 2009 Do you think she'll be ok alone for that long? I was worried it would be cruel to keep her alone for more than a just few days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 I'd put her where she can see the other hens but not interact - it's worth a try, as your other options are limited. PTS would indeed be a last resort, but you have to consider the health and well-being of the other hens, and if she is really making everyone's life miserable (including yours) then it may be the only solution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 One of girls Betty, was bullying one of ex batts quite badly just before we went on holiday a few weeks ago - so we put Betty on her own in the whilst we were away as ES was chicken sitting and didn't want any issues - so she was in there for a week. When we got back we put her back in , and for a few days the others were on her case, which wasn't very nice - however after a week or 10 days, peace has prevailed and they are all now getting along fine .....so it may be worth a try to separate her and maybe teach her a lesson.....good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 As Olly says, put her where she can see and hear the others, but not get at them. It will do her no harm and might do the trick. I took on a hen that was supposed to be a bully a few months ago. I kept her in solitary for a couple of weeks( the others free ranged round her). She was as good as gold when she joined the flock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbanchick Posted September 3, 2009 Author Share Posted September 3, 2009 Yippee, problem sorted. A nice lady in Ringwood will put her in with her flock where there are cockerals. And while I'm there I will be purchasing some more birds...... Thanks for the advice and support everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
