Ophelia Posted March 21, 2010 Share Posted March 21, 2010 I had a bullying problem with my 3 ex-batts. The top girl, Chewbacca, was poking, pulling feathers and drawing blood from the other two. Anti peck and purple spray didn't work so I resorted to putting a bumper bit on her in December. A few weeks later the middle hen, Dorothy, started bullying so she got a bumper bit too. I felt incredibly mean but I had to administer tough love. They still kepy trying to poke and pull feathers but eventually they all settled down to get along. Now Camilla is top girl. Two weeks ago Dorothy's bit fell off so I took off Chewbacc's one too. So far there has not been any bully behaviour and they are still getting on well. The bumper bits were worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nics Chics Posted March 21, 2010 Share Posted March 21, 2010 Well done you! We spent a frustrating & distressing hour this morning trying to fit our girls with bumper bits in an effort to put an end to the bullying problem that we have been experiencing for the last couple of weeks. Every time we thought we had a bit correctly in place they were pulled of in a matter of seconds either by the wearer or one of the other girls Have found some beak rings on the Wildfowl Trust website so going to give these a try next & hopefully we'll have more success with these & our 6 girls can be reunited! _________________________________ x 6 Warrens aka: The Girls x 28 National Hives Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porkypie Posted March 21, 2010 Share Posted March 21, 2010 Good to hear a happy ending I resorted to a BB yesterday which I found a distressing experience and was quite down in the dumps about it all - you've spurred me on so thanks for your story Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ophelia Posted March 21, 2010 Author Share Posted March 21, 2010 I hope the beak rings work for you Nics. I hated putting the BB on to my girls and felt terrible but using them is better then letting the girls tear chunks out of each other. Don't worry, they will get used to them and start to behave as ladies should. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squawk Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 Hi Nic How did you get on with the beak rings? We have tried fitting bumper bits and beak rings to one of our girls but she gets really distressed and scratches at it until it comes off. I feel really sorry for her but my other two chickens have got bare bottoms and legs from her feather pulling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 Well done you! We spent a frustrating & distressing hour this morning trying to fit our girls with bumper bits in an effort to put an end to the bullying problem that we have been experiencing for the last couple of weeks. Every time we thought we had a bit correctly in place they were pulled of in a matter of seconds either by the wearer or one of the other girls Have found some beak rings on the Wildfowl Trust website so going to give these a try next & hopefully we'll have more success with these & our 6 girls can be reunited! You might find that you need to put the bit further back in the nostrils when you fit it - the front part of the nostril has a skin covering just below the surface and if you put it in there, it will come out again. It is definitely a two person job though - I remember doing it for a lovely Omleteer one summer when they came over with the offending hen and their gorgeous (human) newborn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 You definately need 2 people. We find one person kneeling down with the hen between their knees holding the head firmly with both hands. The other can then slip the flat part accross the upside down 'A' shape into the beak with the prongs facing towards the nostrils. the prongs can then be quite easily pulled open an slipped into the top part of the nostrils. Some hens have bigger nostrils whoch makes the job a lot easier. I had to do one yesterday for the first time in over a year, and it went on a treat and is still there. I didn't find beak rings worked at all, and my girls had much more trouble eating, preening etc, than with the bumper bits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorimer73 Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 If you put the bumper bit in boiling hot water for about 10 mins it makes the plastic more flexible and easier to put on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Kate Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 and some circlips help too. interestingly i was on the phone to BHWT being interviewed for my next batch of batts and mentioned that we had bumper bitted one of our girls and she very firmly said that they were against that as it was cruel. I felt like the worst chicken owner ever. and yet it totally solved the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 A few people reckon that they are cruel, but in my book, there's nowt so cruel as a hen being bullied and packed raw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Kate Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 i have to say i agree... i know it's nature red in tooth and claw and all but it's still not really fair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ophelia Posted March 22, 2010 Author Share Posted March 22, 2010 I know that a BB can't be that nice for a hen to have to wear but they can still eat, drink and be a chicken without causing serious damage to the others. My Beaker died after being bullied non-stop. The vet said it was a possibility that she had caught an infection through one of her wounds. My only regret is not BB the bullys earlier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nics Chics Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 Thanks for all the tips & advice Squawk - The beak rings haven't arrived yet but i'll let you know if they are successful. __________________________ x 6 Warrens aka: The Girls x 28 National Hives Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickyhazel Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 I have never used bumper bits but friends who have say they are a waste of money. Sorry to dampen the good mood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
