Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[Ness3103]

hi everyone, not been on for a while not sure what to do about Ebony, i bought her a saddle in february because the other girls had pulled all her feathers out on her back. there is no sign of the feathers growing back at all i thought there would be some regrowth by now they've all got bumper bits on and i've had to replace them a couple of times now but they still manage to pull feathers out, they've now pulled the feathers out of scarlets back. they all look terrible and it's very upsetting. i'm at my wits end as to what to do next as nothing is working i'm beginning to regret getting them now

 

any advice would be very very gratefully received

[chelsea]

Sorry their antics are getting you down. I go through phases like that when my girls are noisy

 

I've no experience of feather pecking, but have you tried bumper bits on the pecking hens?

 

Your run is lovely and a good size so they can't be bored?!

 

Edit: Sorry I can see you've tried bumper bits!

[Eggasperated]

I've had a similar problem only with bottom and neck feathers pulled, I also tried bumper bits, sprays etc, which didn't stop the feather pulling.

I've identified the main culprit and she has been kept separate during the day, I then found she was pulling the feathers out at night. She is now on a six week separation trial, sleeping in a cat box which I tuck inside my hen house after the other two have gone to bed; during the day I alternate their time free ranging within my electric fence area.

 

This is all quite a faff and I have often felt that I wish I hadn't started hen keeping but the pleasures of watching them out and about do generally outweigh the problems (plus the eggs of course).

 

The two with lots of feathers missing do not really seem to be growing much back despite all the supplements I give them but they are happy in themselves and don't seem to care that they look awful .

 

I am trying to be more laid back in my approach to this as at one time it was driving me mad, however I'm not sure if I can keep Pippa separate for ever (although quite frankly she doesn't seem to care at all).

 

I don't know if any of this is any help but just to let you know you are not alone in this feather plucking nightmare.

[Ness3103]

it's nice to know i'm not alone , i was thinking it was something i was doing wrong. they are all happy and healthy in every other way, (apart from tia who's laid a softie every day for 9 months!) i wondered if it was boredom but we hang up cabbages with sweetcorn in the leaves and various other goodies, i've started letting them free range when i'm in the garden, so maybe it will improve. they've had bumper bit's on for about 8 months now, which i hate, it seems cruel but it stops them drawing blood. there isn't one particular hen that does it, they all do to each other and i can't seperate them all . i'm hoping that one day they'll just stop and grow their beautiful feathers back. i love them to bits and want to show them off to my friends which i can't at the moment

[Egluntyne]

Might be worth trying anti pecking rings instead of bumper bits. They work in slightly different ways and swapping them over can be quite effective.

[Ness3103]

i'll try anything Egluntyne, where do i get them from and are they easy to put on