Luvachicken Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 Things with Evie had improved now all the snow has gone, but today as I had let them all play together Evie decided to have a few well aimed pecks on the other 2. We have managed to alternate who has a turn in the purple house and then a turn in the rabbit run whislt we've been at work and then they all play together when I get back , but today was rather disappointing. The bumper bits haven't arrived yet, so i'm a bit cross about that, the ukadex is out of stock but should be coming soon but something that puzzles me is that when I asked about the purple spray some one wrote that the chickens then don't peck the purple bit - so my question is this If they don't peck the purple why would you buy the expensive stuff instead ? I also wondered if anyone has tried Netdex, i think it was called, from Pets at Home ? It was around 10 pounds , i thought i my buy it tonight before the shop closes.I'm starting to get a bit desperate When is the best time to put this stuff on and do you spray it all over the bird including the pecked bits ? Some good news is that the pecked bit on the boney part on Charlotte is fully better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eggasperated Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 I've used Nettex but although the taste does put them off for a while it hasn't had a very long lasting effect with stopping Pippa feather plucking. I am currently keeping her completely separate, apart from at night, for a two week period to try and move her down the pecking order and hopefully get her to forget about the feather plucking. Pippa has also been fitted with a larger size bumper bit as she was still able to pull feathers with the other one. Seems this pecking business is a never ending saga . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suebee Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 Hi there. I thought the posts about the use of water pistols were very interesting. Have you tried that? It's a bit of a hands on approach I suppose, and may be no good if you're not there. I wonder... The key, I suppose, would be split second timing so the hen associates the action of pecking with the unpleasant water, and so, hopefully realises that pecking others causes her discomfort, therefore making her responsible for her own actions. One of my hens started to have a good peck at me, usually when my back was turned. At the second peck, I'd be ready for her and meet her peck with a (very gentle) push. It worked, and she began to associate pecking me with the discomfort of being pushed away. From what I can gather, others have had success with the water pistol method. I suppose you'd have to watch you didn't end up with a soggy hen though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 It gets to the stage when they recognise the weapon or the sound of the pump and then look as though butter wouldn't melt in their mouths - or beaks! What are we doing wrong? As if they didn't know!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 The purple spray covers any blood or redness so they dont peck at that, it wont stop a feather pecking problem in general Nettex isnt bad stuff, Johnssons anti peck spray (pet shops) is not bad either Ukadex is the best Bumper bits are a last resort Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
