Bantambabe Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 I picked up 4 lovely Miss Pepperpots yesterday from the Omlet shop and they are nnow happily installed in the and WIR. One of them I noticed is getting bottom pecked by the "boss" of the flock and so I've just been to get some purple spray from the local pet suppliers. but I've also noticed that they all seem to be eating the little downy feathers that are loose in the run from our old chickens. My old chooks never ate feathers that I noticed. Is this normal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eggasperated Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 My Black Rocks, a close relation to your Miss Pepperpots I believe, are famed for their feather eating - and don't care whether they are attached to another chicken or not , so I think it can be considered fairly normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percy049 Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 It could be sign that they need more protein, especially as they sound like they're POL. I think my hens were eating feathers too when I first got them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bantambabe Posted December 4, 2011 Author Share Posted December 4, 2011 Yes they're definitely POL - only got them yesterday and an egg from each today - can't say fairer than that. They're also very stupid (although I know chickens aren't famed for their intelligence). I did expect Omlet chickens to recognise an eglu though - 3 of the 4 slept on the step into the WIR last night (about 18ins from the eglu door) and they're settling down there again now. I've tried putting a light in the eglu to guide them home, but that just made the one that WAS in the eglu storm out in a huff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percy049 Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 They can be stupid sometimes! You may have to put them in the house through the eggport for the first couple of nights so they realise that is where they're supposed to sleep! Make sure you close the door though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KimmyCustard Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 Both my Black Rocks feather peck, I have found a tin of tuna in water or brine shared between 5 girls helps them regain their feathers, the other 3 are fine, the Rocks are almost bald underneath! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bantambabe Posted December 5, 2011 Author Share Posted December 5, 2011 Have come home this evening to find them all tucked up warm in the so have shut the door for the night - may be last night's frost was enough of a warning for them that they decided to brave the scary green box only 2 today (although they might have hidden some - it's very dark out there) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Have come home this evening to find them all tucked up warm in the so have shut the door for the night - may be last night's frost was enough of a warning for them that they decided to brave the scary green box only 2 today (although they might have hidden some - it's very dark out there) You are right it is very dark out there, my dad has been putting the girls to bed for me before I get home from work. He managed to lock up without Pepper being in bed the other night. Well she wasnt going to get left out! What a racket, she has been first in the last couple of nights Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CR666 Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Ah, that brings back memories of our first night with the eglu/run, they settled down on the grass and made no attempt to go in, that was when we 1st discovered that a chicken sat in the eglu run is very hard to reach. Finally after some very gentle prodding with a broom we persuaded them that the eglu was the place to roost and from then on they have used it with no problems. When we introduced some new chickens they just dutifully followed the rest into the eglu with no problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bantambabe Posted December 6, 2011 Author Share Posted December 6, 2011 my first lot of girls accidentally got shut out of their run once and I found them all roosting on the rotary airer washing line Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
