White Khaki Cambells stopped laying and won't restart

[stoice]

Hi guys

 

Before I resort to the dreaded Ukadex I need to buy some anti peck spray (The type that makes feathers taste bitter rather than the stinky deterrent) as my snowy has been plucked at the base of her tail on her back, and around her vent by Margot. Not sure if it's because she's bottom chook or because she's white but she's the only one who's affected. Anyway, I used to have the Johnsons type on standby and for some reason I've been keeping an empty bottle on the shelf since I last needed it. No idea why i didn't chuck it.

So I popped onto Flyte so Fancy's website for some more stuff to notice there is now a large range of anti-peck bitter tasting sprays.

 

Does anybody have any advice on which is best?

I've noticed bottles made by the Poultry Shield people, Johnsons obviously, Net-Tex and Barrier.

Are they all pretty much the same?

 

Thanks

[Redwing]

The Nettex one is probably the best of the others when you disregard Ukadex (and who can blame you!)

[sage]

Am I the only person who dosen't mind the smell of Ukadex.

 

Sage

[stoice]

Yep, I reckon you are Sage! It makes your whole garden honk!! LOL

Coolio. A recommendation for the Net Tex one it is then. Thanks Redwing.

[Redwing]

Are you sure your Ukadex isnt a fake one Sage?

 

I have to spray it, drop the can and run in to the next county!

[sage]

Ok

No way will I swap it for my Chanel Allure but it’s not that bad.

Wonder if there’s a market for a professional Ukadex sprayer

Sage

[stoice]

Think you've found a niche Sage!

[Cinnamon]

Nettex is pretty vile too - it smells like burnt feathers & is brown.

You only need to inhale it a bit (easily done with a flapping hen trying to escape) & you can taste it for HOURS

[stoice]

Oh, so the Net-tex one is like the tar based stuff like Ukadex?

Hmm, Snowy already has a purple botty which i know won't go until she moults now. I'd rather not put more gunk on her. Is the Barrier one clear like the johnsons one is?

[MissPug+Chooks]

The Nettex one smells like smoked bacon to me - I have found it totally ineffective not only because the pecking didnt stop but the dog quite fancied the bacon smelling hen....?!

[Cinnamon]

Really?

It worked brilliantly on my hen.

She had a totally bald back,& within 2 weeks she was feathered up again.

[The Dogmother]

The NetTex one is very good, just be careful to observe the dosage.

[sandyhas3chucks]

The Nettex one is probably the best of the others when you disregard Ukadex (and who can blame you!)

only just last night read on another forum about some horrid side effects of this stuff.

Here is the first post, others followed with similar stories.

I have had a Saturday night from hell and just wanted to share this with you so you are aware of the potential side effects of anti peck spray. You might know already, however, I didn't.

I've used the Nettex anti peck spray on ###before and she has been fine. I gave her a good spray across the base of her back yesterday, outside, so lots of fresh air, to try and deter the behaviour and she seemed fine. I then noticed she started to preen, after which she started to stagger and walk in a stooped position, she couldn't stay upright and kept lolling over.

 

We whipped her indoors straight into the bath and showered the stuff off. No improvement, still lolling over and uncontrollable. I then contacted an out of hours vet service, the woman on the phone was brilliant. She contacted a poisons unit and came back saying to wash her again, with mild solution of Fairy liquid, get her to drink, try and rinse out mouth, and keep her in a well ventilated space. The poisons unit said we may see improvement anything from one to eight hours. They also commented that another effect is hyperactivity, which explained why I had a hen who couldn't walk properly, but kept trying to bolt out of the bed we had made her. I cuddled her for ages in a towel to dry her and felt horrendous.

 

OH got up early this morning to check on her and she is fine. Thank goodness. I couldn't do it. I felt riddled with guilt and couldn't bear to find her dead. I couldn't stop grizzling last night. She's eaten well, laid an egg (which won't be eaten) and is back outside with the other two.

 

I wanted to share this with you all so you know that this can happen. I followed directions, didn't overdo the stuff and did it outside. A caution on the packaging warns about narcosis, which I guess could account for all the slumping and lolling.

[MissPug+Chooks]

Yep I'm sure - didn't do a thing for mine; the only thing thats worked with my hens is a bumpa bit - fitted it Monday and since the poor oven ready hen I have now has some feathers coming through - the first in 3 months!!!

[The Dogmother]

Sandy, that has come up before and it was put down to an overdose of the product; the main active ingredient is Bittrex, which is large amounts can be fatal. My understanding is that too much of the product was used, and that the company has since made the instructions fro use even clearer than they were.

 

This applies to most of the anti-pecking products, hence my warning above.

[essexhen]

I use purple spray on any wounds and then apply a dollop of good old sudo-cream. Recommended to me by the breeder and supplier that I used.

[The Dogmother]

Sudocrem is good on wounds, as is Stockholm Tar; the latter has an anti-peck effect as it smells and tastes ghastly to livestock (I like the coal tar smell though) it aids healing but is messy to apply.

[Eggasperated]

I've got this Stockholm tar spray here but my girls hate it and always try desperately to get if off if I use it on them.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I put Nettex anti-peck spray on Layla today . Bit worried now, think I'll go and check on her .

 

The instructions say not to use on young or immature birds. I take that would mean younger than POL?

[sandyhas3chucks]

Sandy, that has come up before and it was put down to an overdose of the product; the main active ingredient is Bittrex, which is large amounts can be fatal. My understanding is that too much of the product was used, and that the company has since made the instructions fro use even clearer than they were.

 

This applies to most of the anti-pecking products, hence my warning above.

But sadly not everyone has the dogsmother to warn us!!

I thought it smelt just like Ucadex which put me right off, and as others have said did not stop the pecking anyway

 

Also ....hmmmm.??? I was looking art a bottle in the feed store today, aside from instructions being very small (but is it just i need glasses ) I could not see a warning for narclepsi as mentioned. Certainly on this there was no "clear" warning.

They are new posts and this one followed.

only gave her a small spray on the back and within minutes she couldn't stand up and was lolling around drunk. Immediately we got her outside on her own to give her fresh air and wipe the stuff off. Like you I felt guilt ridden that I'd poisoned her, with an hour she was back to normal. Even her eyes had dilated at the time. Terrible stuff I did post on the forum about this but it was awhile ago. I threw my bottle away, will never use it again. Chickens I believe have several air sacs for lungs that rung along their spine, so I wonder if spraying them on the back causes problems for their breathing.

Just goes to show how essential forums are, I missed it having come up before!!!

off to google Bittrex now!

[sandyhas3chucks]

I emailed Net-tex here is the reply

Anti-Pecking Spray contains a blend of Bittrex, Pine Tar, Ethanol and Bezalkonium chloride. None of these ingredients are classified as toxic in the product but the way they are blended together results in an evil taste! Repeated exposure to the evil taste teaches a bird not to peck at associated areas, making life much more bearable for the whole flock! Neither the individual ingredients nor the full blend are poisonous.

 

Net-Tex