dipper Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 Hi I am looking for other peoples experience with bumper bits! We have had our 2 rangers and 1 pepperpot for about 10 weeks now - the pepperpot has always been a bit of a bully with pecking at the other two, however she then proceeded to strip all of the feathers of the rear end of both rangers, we fitted a bumper bit two weeks ago and she hasn't laid since then! - she seems as normal and is still eating as much - is she still just mad at having the bumper bit on? is she going to withhold on the egg front until we take it off? We can't really take the bumper bit off as the other two seem terrified of her now! they have always had a varied diet of pellets / corn / oats / greens/ corn cobs etc etc and range for several hours a day plus toys etc in the run but nothing improved the pecking - is she just a thug and is it worth persevering ? Thanks Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 I have several girls wearing bumper bits, and it didn't seem to affect their laying tbh. THey weren't too thrilled for a a few hours, but now don't seem to notice. You mention their varied diet. I am wondering if they are getting too many other items besides layers pellets. That combined with the free ranging could be the cause of the problem. Why not try them with a diet of just layers pellets for a week, and limited free ranging and see if things improve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 6 of mine have perminant bits on! Their laying has never been affected I am pleased to say I put them on of a night time so they are all forgotten in the morning! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 I'd look at their diet if I were you - perhaps she's just more selective about what she eats. They need to have pellets all day with just a small amount of treats (ideally fresh greens) in the evening. I've never heard of a bumper bit stopping a hen from laying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dipper Posted September 18, 2009 Author Share Posted September 18, 2009 Another day - still no egg! - seems strange that she laid every day for 6-7 weeks until exactly the day it was fitted and nothing since When I said about the diet I meant that is the variety they have as opposed to every day - generally they only have pellets and grit in the feeder with the odd treat of a corn cob thrown in to peck at I am sure it is just revenge for fitting the bumper ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dipper Posted October 7, 2009 Author Share Posted October 7, 2009 We left the bumper bit on until last weekend and haven't had any eggs during the whole time it was fitted - we decided she may have learnt her lesson and took it off, she has laid today - hooray We had a problem with the 2 pecking each other during the same period and fitted a bumper to one of them - she stopped laying the day after as well, after a 2-3 day cooling off period we took it off and she started laying again as well! So whilst I accept that everyones chickens are obviously different, in our case bumper bits = no eggs - unless of course we just have special extra stroppy girls who bear a grudge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
