Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[jasperaliceuk]

This morning we bought a bale of straw to go in the run for extra occupational therapy for the girls. So I let Rose the pecker in with them. All was fine for a while, they had good scrabble around for some mealworms, Rose dustbathed, they all seemed fine until....Rose just decided to go for it - any chicken nearby was targetted, beakfuls of feathers, so I swiftly ejected her back to the Go.

 

Just ordered the circlip pliers - I already have the bits - just not sure if I'm brave enough to do the deed!

 

Sue

[Fur 'n' Feathers]

We hope you have better luck than we have with the bumper bits. Ours just learned to get round them.

 

Kokkino is still in the eglu and Pitsi has still the tendency to have the odd peck. The worst thing was that, in a matter of hours yesterday, our Spiti had a prolapse and because she was so bald at the back the others set about her prolapse.

 

We had her put to sleep last night. She was the one most singled out for feather pulling and being a gentle giant just did not know how to react.

 

Hopefully, when it's settled down a bit we will again try to reintroduce Kokkino. Otherwise we will look to rehome her where she is the newest in a flock. Everything else has failed to stop her behaviour.

[jasperaliceuk]

That's horrible for you! Today was the worst I've seen it. No blood drawn but I couldn't leave her in there. I fully appreciate that if things come to a head it may have to be a rehoming situation too. I think possibly a large flock which has better free range time would suit her better.

 

Found this today - interesting that they cite freeranging and then having to go back into run for long periods as a reason for featherplucking - I can well believe it as when out they don't feather peck and they really mither to get out of the run. I just can't spend all day in the garden watching chickens - much as I love to!

 

http://www.newlandgrange.com/FEATHER%20PECKING%20PDF.pdf

 

Sue

[AndreaT]

I'm having the same problem too.

 

Tatti is plucking and eating all the others girls feathers from their necks, poor Cristal is so bald in that area now and the others are getting there. Piper even moved herself out to live with Fizz as she was getting the worst of it although she is feathering up nicely now. It doesn't seem aggressive at all though, she just seems to have a quick pluck as they are passing!

 

I've tried spraying them but it didn't help so I've got some bits and pliers. I've no idea how I'm going to get it on her though as I live by myself and she does not like being handled at all! Good luck with getting yours on, fingers crossed it works.

 

Fur and Feathers, so sorry to hear about your girl.

[Fur 'n' Feathers]

Found this today - interesting that they cite freeranging and then having to go back into run for long periods as a reason for featherplucking - I can well believe it as when out they don't feather peck and they really mither to get out of the run. I just can't spend all day in the garden watching chickens - much as I love to!

 

http://www.newlandgrange.com/FEATHER%20PECKING%20PDF.pdf

 

Sue

 

Thank you so much, Sue. This is a really use ful link. We have 2 generations of hens that were originally free-ranged and the 3rd and youngest youngest have only known the large walk in run they are all now in permanently. We had previously heard there can be problems if hens used to free-ranging are then contained and wondered if this could be contributory. That's why we got as large a run as possible (3mx2m walk-in run + the cube & run).

 

Also the photos clearly show the bumpa bit fitted. We have not fitted the bumpa bit correctly we now see, although we did fit it as per a previous photo we found....refits on the way!!

 

It wouldn't have saved Spiti as the issue there was different but it may get the feather pulling sorted eventually.

 

Hope you get the courage to fit yours. We found wrapping the hen in a large towel & bracing it between legs while kneeling helped