Sooo much pooping

[Porkypie]

My goldline has developed a bald bottom and I've noticed my Bluebelle's rear-end starting to thin out On a couple of occasions I've caught the fully-feathered hen tugging at my bald-bottomed hens fluffy feathers. I've started using Net-Tek anti-peck spray but this doesn't seem to be stopping her completely (as she's going for some side fluffy feathers now which I presume I didn't manage to spray). I've been giving them extra protein and calcium. Is it time to try to fit a bumper bit on the feather tugger? Not looking forward to this if the answer is yes...

[Egluntyne]

I'd give the Net Tex a couple more applications and see what happens. If there is no improvement, it might be time to fit a bumper bit.

 

See if you can borrow some straight circlip pliers. It makes the job a whole lot easier.

[Porkypie]

Thank you, I will give a couple more applications of the spray this week and see what happens.

 

If there is no improvement, what is best: bumper bit or anti-pecking ring?

Thanks for tip re pliers. Is there anyone in the Cambridge vicinity who wouldn't mind me borrowing theirs if it comes to that?

[abwsco]

We fitted an anti pecking ring yesterday but had to take it off in less than ten minutes as all the other chickens were chasing her around and pecking at her mouth with no sign of let up. We've just sprayed all of ours with the Net Tex and are hoping that works as not sure what we will do if it doesn't

[Sparklysocks]

I've recently fitted the bumper-bits to 2 of my hens who were bullying. I found them easy to put on the beak, it only took seconds - no pliers required, I did soak them in a bowl of boiling water for about 5 minutes just to soften the plastic. Initially they worked a treat however this week my Sussex Mighty White, who still has the bumper-bit attached (!) has started feather-pecking again...! Once again Speckly has a very bare bottom! Tomorrow I will be on a mission to give them even more space and will also be trying the recently advised tip of applying vaseline to the bullied hens as a deterrent (yes I have tried the pungent sprays and the peck-a-bloc....!)

 

So in answer to your query I would definitely use the bumper-bits as they were fantastic initially... hope you have better luck than me...

 

And if anyone has advice for stopping feather-pecking in a hen who already has a bumper-bit in situ then I would welcome it greatly!!

 

Good Luck!!

[Porkypie]

Thanks Sparklysocks. At this rate I will be giving them a go soon. I feel guilty that it's happened and worried I've done something wrong

 

Reading on the forum it seems that others have sorted this out so I guess we keep trying. Maybe separating the feather plucker in an adjacent run might be another option?

 

Good luck wth sorting yours too

[Sparklysocks]

Hello porkypie - I just wondered how you hen's have been over the past couple of days - any improvements?

 

I used gentian violet spray on my bullied hen yesterday (with anti-pecking spray on top), this seemed to stall the problem although today I noticed Speckly has once again been feather-pecked.

 

I am now waiting for larger size bumper-bits to arrive, as suggested by Wernglas. They also advised me to use Vaseline on the bullied hens - this should deter as they don't like getting it on their beaks. I've put some on this afternoon and will re-apply in the morning.

 

I have wondered if there is a correlation with bullying and the finer weather - I'm not really sure but have wondered if Mighty White gets a bit over-excited in the finer weather which starts the feather-pecking. Yesterday the weather was so wet and less bullying occurred. The worst periods of bullying have been during sunny weeks - this could just be a coincidence!

 

I'd be interested to hear how your hen's are doing and if you are having any success!

[Porkypie]

Hello again. Well, I ordered some BBs as a 'backup' and they arrived yesterday. This morning when I went out to check on them I found my poor Goldline with one thigh stripped bare of feathers. I decided to try the BB and we fitted SJ with it. Ugg.

 

I am often spraying with the Tex Nek spray stuff on my own and I have never seen the hens run so fast away from me I suspect my coverage around the sides etc wasn't great and therefore = bald thigh. I used vaseline at the beginning to help moisturise the skin so maybe I'll stick to applying that each morning if you've been recommended it. I will definately persist with the spray as last weekend I saw SJ go for a heavily sprayed feather and she backed off and wiped her beak. Looking on the brightside, Little Jerry's rear doesn't look any worse and I see new feather growth in her sp"Ooops, word censored!" patches.

 

Not sure about the weather Mine definately started in all that wet and cold weather a few weeks back so it seems the opposite to your trigger. I'd been away for two consecutive weekends so they only had a few hours of FR time in a fortnight. I was wondering wether the dull, wet weather with limited FR time had set it off. Hmmmmmm, it would be nice to understand 'why' so that we can help stop it reoccurring.

 

I'd be interested to hear how you get on with the new BBs. I'm hoping the combo of spray (applyed all over!), vaseline on the bare skin and the BB will crack it. I read someone had success with this approach so will stick with it!