Attach catio to 4 x 4s

[horselovinginger]

Hello,

 

My chicken was attacked by a dog a few weeks ago , thankfully she got away with just some flesh wounds, and the loss of her feathers from over her back . The wounds are healing up fine, but every time she starts to grow through her new feathers, the other peck them out again ! I want her to be able to grow them back before it starts to get really cold. I was just wondering how I stop them from pecking at her. I think they just do it overnight when they are locked in the eglu . I have made a little fleecy jacket for her (Just cut up an old sleeve) , I haven't put it on her yet, as I wanted to find out if I would be doing more bad than good. I was only going to put it on her overnight, just to protect her from the pecking. But what do you think?

 

Thanks in advance!

[Egluntyne]

Sounds like a plan, as long as she doesn't get too hot....even in this weather.

 

It will get very grubby.

 

Have you tried spraying her with one of the anti peck sprays that are available?

[The Dogmother]

Good ideas Egluntyne.

 

How many other hens do you have? Would it be feasible to bumper bit them if all else fails?

 

Once they start pecking at the quills (which have a lovely warm supply of tasty blood) it's a very hard habit to break. Hopefully, once the new feathers have emerged, they will forget about it.

 

Try the jacket thing first though. Just some tubigaze bandage loose enough to fit around her will be fine.

[horselovinginger]

Thanks for the advice. I think I'll try putting the little jacket on now. Will buy some of the anti-pecking stuff at the weekend, hopefully they'll stop. There's 4 of them altogether. But I think it will be only one of them pecking at her, as the other two generally aren't bothered.

[Macfoy]

You can buy what is known as a poultry saddle, which just looks like a saddle but chicken sized and made from tough canvas. They are primarily to prevent cockerel damage but also very useful for helping feathers regrow. The saddles have a tape edge which extends to make a loop to go round the wings to hold it in place. If your fleece jacket is too warm or slips you could perhaps copy the design. If you Google chicken supply places you may even get a picture of one to copy. Failing that I use stock marker spray, which comes in a variety of colours, I use black, but blue would be equally good, anything but red really Stock marker spray may (or may not ) be cheaper than the anti peck spray.

 

Chickens do love those young feathers, I expect they have lots of goodness in them, I will often sit and pluck a bird and have a gang of helpers milling around consuming all that fall.

 

I'm quite surprised bumper bits are recommended on here........on the PK forum they are considered to be not very nice and a last resort. I've never used one so don't know for sure, perhaps someone can tell me

 

Macfoy

[Egluntyne]

I have used bumperbits when all else has failed in terms of pecking and aggression. They definitely have their place imho . If applied correctly, the hen soon gets used to them and in my experience the unpleasant behaviour has stopped fairly quickly. There have been no problems with the hen being unable to eat etc. I always feel that the 'rights' of the flock as a whole over-ride the 'rights of an individual hen, and prefer to bumperbit an aggressive or feather pecking hen that hasn't responded to corrective training rather than cull or rehome. The latter only passes the problem on to someone else in any case.

[The Dogmother]

I have used bumperbits when all else has failed in terms of pecking and aggression. They definitely have their place imho . If applied correctly, the hen soon gets used to them and in my experience the unpleasant behaviour has stopped fairly quickly. There have been no problems with the hen being unable to eat etc. I always feel that the 'rights' of the flock as a whole over-ride the 'rights of an individual hen, and prefer to bumperbit an aggressive or feather pecking hen that hasn't responded to corrective training rather than cull or rehome. The latter only passes the problem on to someone else in any case.

 

Met too.

 

I recently helped a friend the fit bits to some of her flock after she'd tried all other options and the pecking had caused two deaths. It's bound to be a divided subject though and one with strong beliefs too.

[Macfoy]

Ah...okay. I have no strong opinions either way actually and agree with the flock welfare over the individual principle anyway. Mine have more space than average so bullying isn't really a problem, odd birds get occasionally feather pecked and the saddle or stock marker spray works well for that.

 

Thanks for the input.

 

Macfoy

[Jools]

I think there is another factor. Hybrids in particular are active chickens, especially when they're laying, hence a lot of those destined for an under-cover life are beak trimmed to avoid feather pecking. However, most of us object to that and prefer our's to have intact beaks so the producers meet that demand. That's okay if they have enough room to keep busy because they'll usually find something else to peck at, but if they're confined (for their own safety) then they do get bored pretty quickly and feather pecking can become a habit.

 

Bullying is a different issue but again, space makes all the difference because the bullied can stay out of the way. Certainly a bumper bit has to be preferable to culling a bully if there's no other option.

[horselovinginger]

Hi guys,

 

Just thought I would let you know that my chook is now 100% recovered!! And is looking as lovely as ever. Thanks for all of the advice, it was really helpful.

[Egluntyne]

That is good to hear.