Eggasperated Posted April 13, 2010 Share Posted April 13, 2010 Pippa is now in to her 3rd week of segregation for feather plucking but isn't showing any signs of being a reformed character. She has taken to calling the other two over to her run and then pulling their feathers through the wire, and they fall for it every time. There also doesn't seem to be an awful lot of regrowth on Carol and Alice, pictures below. So far we have tried: Bumper bits - Pippa still managed to get feathers out Anti-peck spray (Nettex and Ukadex) - got accustomed to taste Stockholm tar spray - ditto Water spray - learnt to feather pluck when I wasn't around (and the water put the others off laying) Additional protein - made no difference at all Now segregation night and day Running out of ideas if this doesn't work Carols bare neck Carols bare bottom Two bare bottoms The beautiful fully feather Pippa We've also had to make adjustments to their area to cope with Pippa being separate which means my OH say it looks like a refugee camp: I also seem to spend half my day swapping chickens round so that they all get some free-range time , when will it ever end? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted April 13, 2010 Share Posted April 13, 2010 It's so exasperating isn't it My feather pecker has been back with the others since yesterday afternoon and also spent the night with them in the cube as she got in and then I couldn't get her out. I don't know if she's feather plucked today as I've been out most of the day. I've two who are as bald bottomed as yours although one does look like she's got a brazillian landing stip now and my CLB is at last getting feathers back on her botty and only has a small bare patch now. However, one of my new girls was also spotted feather pecking yesterday so I've gone and bought some layers pellets. Am feeling mega guilty about that as I've been mixing their own feed since August and really didn't wnat to buy pellets again but I've got to try it. You've got such a big area for them to roam in as well. I was mean and didn't let my feather pecker have any freeranging time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porkypie Posted April 13, 2010 Share Posted April 13, 2010 It's so exasperating isn't it Oh yes, I know what you both mean. I too have two bedraggled hens plus one gorgeous full of fluff madam. Solitary is the last thing I haven't tried. If I wasn't vegetarian I'd be tempted to roast her I feel like this too. Is your feather plucker the top hen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted April 13, 2010 Share Posted April 13, 2010 It's so exasperating isn't it Oh yes, I know what you both mean. I too have two bedraggled hens plus one gorgeous full of fluff madam. Solitary is the last thing I haven't tried. If I wasn't vegetarian I'd be tempted to roast her I feel like this too. Is your feather plucker the top hen? Noooooooooo, she's near the bottom which confuses me more as usually everyone says the feather pecker is the bully Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porkypie Posted April 13, 2010 Share Posted April 13, 2010 My feather plucker is top bird but she gently honks at me as if butter wouldn't melt... abwsco - I was wondering how long you isolated your bad hen for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted April 13, 2010 Share Posted April 13, 2010 My feather plucker is top bird but she gently honks at me as if butter wouldn't melt... abwsco - I was wondering how long you isolated your bad hen for? I bet she makes you feel guilty as well for even thinking of it. We've only let ours out now as DH had the mega guilts We had her in full solitary for two weeks. Won't know for a few days if it's worked as I'm in work tomorrow. If it hasn't she'll be going back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 14, 2010 Share Posted April 14, 2010 Might be worth trying an anti pecking ring as opposed to a bumperbit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McChook Posted April 14, 2010 Share Posted April 14, 2010 My bully is now into her 5th week of solitary! She's so lovely to people and 'meeps' at us every time she sees us, but when we put her with the new hens (who we got for her as she was all alone after Loofi was put to sleep), she just attacks them! I tried her in with the others last week, but she promptly grabbed Nimue's face and shook it, making it bleed! We've ended up buying a small wooden coop and run for her, and have pushed it up against the other run, so at least she can see them, but we've given up all hope of a full reintegration with them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eggasperated Posted April 14, 2010 Author Share Posted April 14, 2010 I can see I'm definitely not alone then. Carol was originally top hen but Pippa was always trying to be boss and after a lice outbreak last October things shifted and Pippa took up feather plucking in what appeared to be an attempt to take over as top hen. Eglutyne - what is the advantage of the anti-pecking ring? - I always understood they weren't as effective as bumper bits, but I am certainly prepared to try anything as like McChook I'm also beginning to give up hope of them ever living together again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 14, 2010 Share Posted April 14, 2010 They allow the beaks to wear down in a slightly different way. Many folk have had success by alternating them, as eventually, the beaks grow so that the hen can nip again. Might be worth a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted April 14, 2010 Share Posted April 14, 2010 However, one of my new girls was also spotted feather pecking yesterday ! "I'm not the feather plucker, I'm the feather plucker's friend and I'm only plucking feathers till the feather plucker comes" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted April 14, 2010 Share Posted April 14, 2010 However, one of my new girls was also spotted feather pecking yesterday ! "I'm not the feather plucker, I'm the feather plucker's friend and I'm only plucking feathers till the feather plucker comes" LOL's. Although I'm going to be out looking at botties soon as I'm not sure if I've another one now with some missing Couldn't quite tell from the patio doors down to the bottom of the garden. If she has it's solitary again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eggasperated Posted April 14, 2010 Author Share Posted April 14, 2010 Might be worth trying an anti pecking ring as opposed to a bumperbit. Are they as difficult to fit as bumper bits? I seem to remember reading on the forum about somebodys chicken swallowing theirs . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted April 14, 2010 Share Posted April 14, 2010 Might be worth trying an anti pecking ring as opposed to a bumperbit. Are they as difficult to fit as bumper bits? I seem to remember reading on the forum about somebodys chicken swallowing theirs . That would be mine who is going back in solitary tonight One of my new girls now looks like the one of yours on the left(3rd pic) in a day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porkypie Posted April 14, 2010 Share Posted April 14, 2010 That would be mine who is going back in solitary tonight One of my new girls now looks like the one of yours on the left(3rd pic) in a day :wall: Oh no!! I hope these hens of ours aren't permanent pluckers I'm going to attempt to fit a new BB to mine as that was working (until it slipped out of place after a couple of weeks). I'm trying to 'pluck' up the courage after failing miserably last week... And if there's anyone near-ish to Cambridge with experience who can help me I would be extremely grateful (as would Nursie and Jerry). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted April 14, 2010 Share Posted April 14, 2010 Well, she's not in solitary for tonight as I couldn't face chasing her around the garden on my own to catch her. We've decided that we're just going to let them have all the garden again as when they've been out in tonight she's not feather pulled anyone. Easiest way is for us to use bamboo canes and netting along the garden wall somehow to stop my Vorwerk going into next doors Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
