Solitary chicken - need advice

[-sarahjayne]

So our little hen Rhonda is completely bald on her bum and a patch on one side of her neck. We checked for fleas etc but shey was completely fine. We bumper-bitted the culprate Yvie who was the only chook left with full feathers. Then Esmee started to get a bald patch on her bum, so we bumper-bitted Martha who didn't have a bald patch anymore.

 

I'm pretty positive that Esmee wouldn't peck Rhonda as she's very sweet and those two are never without eachother and they are best friends.

Yesterday I saw Yvie try and peck some feathers off Rhonda but failing she walked away

 

Yvie has had her bumperbit on now for 2 MONTHS..

 

My question is, is there anything else I can do to stop Rhonda getting pecked? (I dont wan't to bumperbit Esmee as I am 99.99999% sure it isn't her)

And.. Is it possible for a chook to still be able to take feathers even when it's wearing a bumper bit?

 

They aren't agressive towards eachother they all get along fine. But it's getting cold and snowy here and I can't stand seeing Rhonda so bald.

 

(have tried all kinds of anti-peck sprays)

[Redwing]

I would bumper bit Esmee and see if that makes a difference

 

Its not always an agression thing when a chickens feathers are pulled out, one of mine 'grazes' on the feathers of the others when they go to bed, almost in an absent minded way, I have never seen her do it out of agression

 

I know you have tried anti pecking sprays, did you try the big gun - Ukadex? this is a very good anti pecking spray - by far the best IMHO

 

I would also treat the lot for mites/lice even if there is no sign of them just in case

 

In theory a hen shouldnt be able to pull feathers when it is bumper bitted but I guess there are always hardcore feather peckers who are very determined

 

A trick mght be to separate the one you think is causing the problems then re-introduce her a few days later so she is a bit further down the pecking order

[Ness3103]

all 4 of my girls have had bumper bits on for a couple of months now and their feathers were finally growing back until this week i caught them all pulling each others feathers out and thats with the bumper bits i've tried ukadex but only deterred them for a couple of hours, ( i stunk for a couple of days though ) i had to remove tia's bumper bit today because it had worn out, and seemed to be preventing her from eating. so not sure what to do now

[Egluntyne]

I've posted a couple of times re a moderate success I have had with poultry saddles for a similar problem.

 

My Amber Link, Hermione , was self harming and others were joining in. Her wing tips and back were a frightful mess.

 

You name it....I've tried it.

 

I got a Joan Collins type poultry saddle with shoulders pads from Ebay, and reapplied bumperbits to her and the other main perpetrator, and the transformation has been amazing. Once they get the taste for newly emerging feathers and their rich blood supply, it is hard to break the habit. This seems to have done the trick.

 

Not only that, Hermione seems much better in herself. She is no longer constantly trying to re-grow feathers, and consequently is putting on a bit of weight and generally looking much happier.

 

Might be worth trying.

 

Unfortunately, this doesn't do the trick for bare bottoms. .