Unsecure chicken perches

[HRC99]

More trials and tribulations introducing Stacey, Nessa and Pamela and looking for some advice.

 

Got the new girls before Xmas and kept them apart for a week or so then allowed them to free-range with Cheryl, Phinie and Rosie which went fine. Took the plunge and popped them into the Cube one night.

 

The newcomers only came down later on in the afternoon to have something to eat. There was a bit of squabbling but nothing too bad. Then the next day it kicked off. Rosie being the main culprit. She was an awful bully to Gladys before and was back bullying again.

 

So I took her out and put her on her own in the run which had held the newcomers - thinking a bit of time in solitary would put her in her place.

 

All ok for another couple of days with little bits of pecking here and there but no real dramas.

 

Then another almighty fuss with Cheryl pinning down our new Silkie, Stacey, and pulling feathers out like she was ripping a pillow to pieces. So Cheryl went into the other run with Rosie.

 

Fast forward a couple of weeks and Phinie and the new girls have been living together without any fuss. Not totally best friends but getting there. The new girls are still a bit wary of her but seem to be more and more comfortable.

 

So decided to take the next step and put Cheryl back in with them. Apart from one rather unpleasant episode when Cheryl pulled a load of feathers out of our Silkie's head, they seem ok now. Again, not totally integrated but getting close. It actually seems that Pamela has joined up with Phinie and Cheryl whereas before the 3 new girls were a team.

 

So, the decision is now when to put Rosie back in with them. She is an awful bully and I've bought some bumper bits. I let them all free-range together once and Rosie immediately terrorised the new girls. I was thinking of putting her back in with the other with a bumper bit fitted but wondered whether that was the right thing to do or just give it more time with her in solitary?

[Carol U]

Bumper bits are great if you can get the bully to keep one on. My bully wouldn't, but I found that by putting some old tree branches in the run, the babies had somewhere to get away from her. They would perch up at the top and do lightening raids down when they needed food. Gradually they spent less and less time up on the branches and now seem to be fully integrated. If you don't have any branches, you could always try a broom handle across one of the corners. Hope this is helpful.

[chickencam]

We have a tree branch that has a big arch in it in our newbie run and it has either worked to help them all get on or we have been lucky. We used bumper bits on the first batch and they were never fully friendly, fine now there are only 2 left.

[HRC99]

They've got one of the IKEA shoe racks which is a nice perch for them.

 

How easy are the bumper bits to remove? I was thinking if I keep them in the run for a day or two there should be anything to help Rosie take it off.

 

Do you think the bumper bit is worth a go or just to keep them apart for a bit longer and try again without it?

[HRC99]

Update

 

Bumper bit fitted on Rosie. She is sooo not amused. It was not a pleasant experience as you felt you were choking her but got it in quite quickly.

 

The others were all very sweet. They shot over to her and started pecking at the bit to try and get it out for her - even though it would have cost them feathers if they'd succeeded!

 

Distracted them all with some corn and herded them all into the run. Rosie's chasing after the newcomers but can't hurt them at the moment. It'll be dark in a bit so we wanted them to get used to each other a little before turning in.

 

Close eye to be kept on them tomorrow. Fingers and toes firmly crossed.

[Luvachicken]

I hope the bumper bit works for you, I can't wait for mine to arrive in the post, hopefully on monday as Evie has been a real pesky wotsit

[HRC99]

Me too. It was quite horrible putting it on. Rosie was very distressed. As anyone would have something shoved up both nostrils so you can't close your mouth.

 

She's already had a couple of pecks at the new girls but, obviously, hasn't managed to get a feather yet. Hopefully, it will sort things out but, if Cheryl's not careful, she'll be next!

 

Good luck with yours.

[chick wiggle]

Oh good luck with that HRC99, Ill keep my fingers crossed for you..... If you want any Ukadex i can lend ya some

[HRC99]

Oh good luck with that HRC99, Ill keep my fingers crossed for you..... If you want any Ukadex i can lend ya some

 

I may take you up on that Sandie!

[HRC99]

Bumper bit still on and Rosie's eating fine. She's still pecking at the others but not doing any damage.

 

Just wondering how long do people leave the bumper bits on? Is there a time limit to how long should they can wear them?

[Cranfield Kate]

we left Atilla's on until one day we noticed it had come off - maybe two months? it was brilliant - she could eat fine and she still had her moments but she couldn't cause pain or draw blood or feathers. and everyone settled down rather nicely. if she had any food stuck on it the others ate it off her!

[jan246]

Our girl Ophelia was such a bully and Mostin very kindly helped us fitting her bumper bit. This stayed on for 2 weeks and then she must`ve found a way to wangle it off . All was ok and we thought she`d grown out of her pecking at the others bottoms habit! But...no, she began again so we managed (all alone this time ) to fit another bit. She really wasnt impressed but she shouldn`t peck should she??!! Which is what I keep telling her

Anyway, I have read you can keep them on until they eventually fall off- not sure how long that is? The ones I have are biodegradable and supposed to just drop off. Altho I`m sure Ophelia helped it last time!

 

Good luck, Jan

[HRC99]

Still a bit of attempted pecking by Rosie (or Evil Rosie as she's now known) especially when there's food to be had. She seems adjusted to the bit very well now and doesn't seem to bother her at all.

 

The other two older girls don't seem to bother the newbies much now at all. I strongly suspect they leave it to Rosie.

 

Pamela seems quite brave around the older girls now and sometimes hangs out with them when they are free-ranging. Nessa is a total scaredy cat at the moment and Stacey is still very wary. Hardly surprising when they've pulled all the feathers out of her head.

 

One encouraging sign was that they all had a dust bath together yesterday apart from Stacey. Hopefully that means they are starting to integrate properly. Fingers crossed.

[Chicken Shirl]

I do hope so. It must be very stressful when all that pecking and feather pulling is going on. You must never want to take your eyes off them. Happy that it is finally resolving for you. xx

[HRC99]

Been a while since I posted here but I was after a bit more advice. Evil Rosie (as we now call her) had her bumper bit fitted and, since then, it has been peace and quiet in the Cube. Well, not exactly quiet. I never knew Silkies could be so loud!

 

But, anyway, back to the point. Evil Rosie has been sneezing very occasionally. That led us to have a look at her in a bit more closely. She is very hard to catch so it's not easy grabbing her. She's got a bit of gunk on one side of the bumper bit so I wondered if we should remove the bumper bit or put a new one in?

[Egluntyne]

I'd try to clean it if you can. A soft toothbrush should dislodge whatever it is.