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

[Space Chick]

Donna has been a bully the last few days, particularly to Leela and Grace, after a vicious attack on Leela (which I am amazed didn't draw blood) I have reluctantly put a bumper bit on her.

 

The problem now, is the Sarah-Jane is following Donna everywhere and is pecking at her bumper bit (she has never done this to Polly who also has a bumper bit).

 

My questions:

 

1. Should I remove the bumper bit on Donna and try anti-peck spray on Leela and Grace instead? (although its more attacking than feather pecking)

 

2. Should I put a bumper bit on Sarah-Jane aswell to stop her pecking Donnas bumper bit?

 

3. Polly has had her bumper bit for 4 weeks and is now impeccably behaved, can I now take her bumper bit off?

 

4. How long should I keep Donnas on for?

 

Thanks

[Laura & CTB]

Hi Debs

 

Sorry to hear you're having a problem with Donna.

 

I can only tell you what happened with my girls if it might help you.

 

With my original two - Prada & Gucci I had to BB Prada when she started grabbing Gucci's feathers (after happily living together for a few months)- Gucci kept pecking at Prada's BB but it only lasted until the next morning when I guess she forgot it was something new to play with. Maybe Sarah-jane is not used to seeing Donna with the BB?

 

I would be inclined to wait a day or so and see if she stops. I think as it's attacking rather than feather pulling that anti-peck spray wouldn't do much to help.

 

As for Polly - well I guess all chooks are different and it might be wortha try to take it off - however, I can only tell you that with Prada she wore a BB for 6 months before she finally gave up feather pulling - I kept taking it off every few weeks but within hours she was back to her bad old ways ( in the end her beak had grown enough over the BB so it was no use anyway - think the effect was just psychological then)!

 

Is there a reason that Donna has suddenly decided to be bad?

[Space Chick]

I don't know if its a delayed reaction to the ex batts being fully integrated, as they have all been sharing now for 10/11 days or it could be a delayed reaction to Leela and Grace having recently come into lay, as they are feeling more confident now. I guess that Donna feels her position in the pecking order is threatened.

 

Chickens hey

 

Thanks for the advice