Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[KittyFlash]

I've got one very naughty chicken who is pecking the hell out of our poor Maggie, who now looks almost oven-ready . We've tried most things including anti-peck sprays. I'd love to keep Minerva (the naughty chicken) as we've only got the two.

 

So in desperation we've got some bumpa bits. They look a bit excessive and i'm worried they might be painful for Minerva to wear.

 

Has anyone had any experiences with these?

[Egluntyne]

Yep. They make a difference. I wouldn't hesitiate to put one on a hen who is making the lives of others misrable.

 

Use straight circlip pliers to attach the bit. It makes the job dead easy.

[Saronne]

Hi and welcome to the forum!

 

 

Bumpa Bits are used by a fair number of us on the forum. Yes, they do look a bit spooky, but they're not supposed to hurt the hens at all and they tend to get used to them pretty quickly. Eating and drinking should be fine after the first day or so. Don't worry. Remember that Maggie has been the victim in this story!

 

 

Saronne x

[Space Chick]

Do it without hesitation. Polly drew blood from Barbara it was horrendous to see. Polly now has a bumper bit, with no ill effects.

[chickencam]

My original girls all wore bumper bits for over a year and it made for harmony in the end and they get used to them very quickly.

 

It is easier to put them on if there are 2 of you. If you don't have pliers, one person needs to hold the hen firmly, we find that kneeling on the ground with her between your legs is best this leaves a hand free to hold her head still. The other person then needs to slip the cross piece of the A shpae into the open beak, then open up the prongs and insert them into the nostrils. If you are firm quick and gentle the process will be pretty smooth.

 

Good Luck.

[KittyFlash]

Wow Thanks for all the advice. We're about to give it a go...

[xScrunchee]

Wow Thanks for all the advice. We're about to give it a go...

 

Is it done?

How did you get on?

[KittyFlash]

Yes! It's on and so far so brilliant! She got used to it pretty quickly and was tempted into her favourite squashy tomatoes within 5 minutes. Am now looking forward to seeing Maggie's feathers growing back.

 

Time for a few more little feathery friends to add to the mix me thinks.....

[Olly]

Good plan! Well done, once you've fitted one it seems easy but I well remember the trauma of fitting the first time. It's well worth it.

[The Dogmother]

Great news!

 

I fitted Bumper Bits to a friend's whole flock a few weeks back - easy enough and they've all stopped pecking at each other. It's a learned behaviour, so a few weeks of not doing it usually works.

 

I have small hands, so find it easy, but if you don't, then try Egluntine's suggestion of Circlip pliers.