staceychristie Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 Well they are all kept occupied and free range for the most part and have hanging CDs etc. The 5 Ex Batts are all moulting, however there is a certain amount of mainly tail plucking, drawing blood as the shafts are bitten off. I've tried all the usual anti peck stuff (Netex still stinks) but they appear to like it. Tried the purple spray too so to disguise the blood spots after vet powder. It's not one bully as the under hens try to pluck feathers from the boss - THEN THEY RUN!!!! Diets good, and supplemented with the usual poultry additive in the drink, and poops ok, and just wormed a month ago. No sign of parasites (Red mite, lice, fleas etc) Short of the dreaded bumper bits for them all (which I hate to use, but preferable to bloody wounds) Last ditch attempt was to use mustard in a paste. Grrrrr Anyone got any thoughts please? Thanks in advance Stacey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egghead68 Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 You've tried pretty much everything I can think of. If it gets really bad can you stick some kind of dressing/cover over her tail? Not sure how you would get this to stay on though. Worst case scenario I suppose isolate her until they are over the moult? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 Ukadex worked on mine, but frankly it is so disgusting I cannot bear to use it again. My hens, like yours, have all sorts of distractions and still I have four with bald patches on their backs and one (the top hen, who I thought was the culprit) with no knicker-feathers. It looks unsightly, but it stops short of drawing blood and so I've decided to leave them to it. I think bumper bits might be the answer in your case; they are a last resort but if blood is being drawn you need something effective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staceychristie Posted October 4, 2011 Author Share Posted October 4, 2011 Hmmmm, thought as much. They've been good girls until recently, now they are naughty little imps. I can't separate them, as it's a cascading problem, so they'd all have to be in solitary I'll get the bumpers out............. Thanks again, Stacey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 I'm surprised the purple spray didnt work Have you tried Ukadex? its the daddy of all anti peck sprays It smells so bad that you have to apply it while naked then drop the can and leg it but it does work very well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 I sympathise Stacey, mine are the same! I've seen the culprit, she pecks the two under hens whose bums are always pink. But she has no knickers herself! Whereas oldest hen is still fully clothed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaches Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 My sympathies - it's so annoying when the little blighters misbehave and you run out of options. Don't they realize they are in chicken heaven??!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
