jasperaliceuk Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 Against all my misgivings we have finally done the deed about 10 minutes ago. Rose was unceremoniously wrapped in a thick towel. My daughter did the evil deed, quite quickly too, but Rose managed to get it off. So we tried again, it was darker now so we were trying to find enough light and ended up taking her into the kitchen. I thought maybe we hadn't got it far enough back in the nostril so Jess aimed for the furthest place. Once in it does look as if the prongs slide slightly forward. In retrospect Rose was well behaved - she didn't like it but once we had got the hang of it with me holding her beak open she sort of submitted (a word I hate in anything to do with animals!!) I actually felt physically sick and stressed doing this to her. We tried to give her a mealworm (some compensation!) but she was too stressed to take it and I'm not sure she could fathom out how to, nor could I! I do hope she will be able to eat properly. I presume she will have to shovel food and I also presume it means she won't be able to free range properly, or will she? We've left her in the Eglu for this evening - there was a bit of bashing about in the house trying to get it off - will check on her in a while in the hopes she has gone to sleep. My next issue is that the Skyline is also feather pecking, to a lesser degree. It seems that a sunbathing chicken is too much of a temptation to her so she may be next in line - not to be looked forward to as she is a screamer! Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikkichick Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 I hated it to! I couldn't bring myself to use enough force!! Think it freaked me out more than her! In the end i got a nice fellow forum goer who lives down my road to come and give me a hand with the pliers. It's horrid, i wish they didn't peck at each other. Attila had a beak ring on for about 3 weeks which meant that Tikka had some regrowth but in the last week she has knocked it off and the pecking has started again. I've ordered some proper bumpa bits now so will give those ago. They should be able to eat and drink as normal. Hopefully your girl will learn to drop her habit soon!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 Well done. It's easy once you get the nack, but be sure to get the top prongs right in the back of the nostrils. A hen with a bumper bit is better than a hen pecked to death she will be fine to eat and drink. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueChick Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 I hated it at first - especially when they start trying to scratch it off but they soon get used to the new way of eating and drinking and they really don't mind them at all. It's just us who are traumatised! Mine still like to free range and can still eat grass easily. My first and second in command were bitted as the boss kept getting her right hand man to do the dirty work for her! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 Yes,I have been there too. I have one with a anti pecking ring fitted,which was fine (its much easier if you soak it in warm water first to soften it),but now her second in command has taken up the nasty habit too. I tried to fit one one her at the weekend,but she has really odd slim slitted nostrils,& there was no way that a ring or bit could go in there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 You might find a bit will fit easier than a ring Sarah; the nostril prongs are smaller than with rings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 Yep,that is the next plan of action Overnight she has managed to strip another hens back of feathers again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mcconnochies Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 Well done. It's easy once you get the nack, but be sure to get the top prongs right in the back of the nostrils. A hen with a bumper bit is better than a hen pecked to death she will be fine to eat and drink. Absolutely agree...it was a lifesaver for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasperaliceuk Posted April 17, 2012 Author Share Posted April 17, 2012 Next question - how long to leave? Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 I'd leave it on until it wears through and drops off. She'll be cured then. Otherwise I'd leave it on for at least a couple of months... whichever comes first I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopingforchickens Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 I've ordered some for mine, I'm not looking forward to it, but can't bear to see them featherless and the beak rings just aren't cutting it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfnirvana Posted April 19, 2012 Share Posted April 19, 2012 We put one on Bess, after trying the anti pecking spray and violet spray. She was the only one out of the 4 of them with a full set of knicker feathers - so we presumed she was the culprit - She's also the bottom of the pecking order! Once on - it took about a day for her to get used to it, but she's now had it on for 2 weeks and seems quite unbothered by it now. Mary's feathers are starting to grow back, but my other two Ivy & Polly still seem to have the ready plucked plucked look. It seems I may still have to fit another bumper bit - but just not sure which chicken! Tricky!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 19, 2012 Share Posted April 19, 2012 You'll have to watch them and see. Try a wee bit of Biotin in their food, or a splodge of Life-Guard in the water to help the feathers grow back. If you can spare the eggs, then scrambled eggs are a good source of Biotin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasperaliceuk Posted April 19, 2012 Author Share Posted April 19, 2012 Rose doesn't seem bothered by hers either. I thought that any pecking would hurt but it doesn't seem to and she is quite happily pecking corn from the ground. You'd think if they did hurt they would just mope. Ace hasn't had another fitted yet - she got hers off overnight. Was too wet yesterday - will try again today. I've seen Rose having a sly peck but nothing coming of it! Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasperaliceuk Posted April 20, 2012 Author Share Posted April 20, 2012 Haruumph! Let the girls out this morning - all fine, Rose and Ace with the bits on. Within 10 mins Ace got hers off - she'd had it on for 8 hours - I think she couldn't figure out how to eat with it and was scratching at it like crazy. Going to try again! Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 Darn! Is it going far back enough in the nostrils? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasperaliceuk Posted April 20, 2012 Author Share Posted April 20, 2012 Just can't see how much further we can go. It is put in right at the back. We did it again about an hour and a half ago. It seems to need to settle. After a few head shakes and pokes it sort of slides forward in the nostril and then pokes out of her beak a bit more. She has such a long beak it was tucked inside and holding her beak open. If you look at the prongs they are slightly curved so maybe now they have more of a purchase. Maybe its all down to her particular anatomy! Just checked her - still there. Another thing I have done today is buy layers mash rather than pellets to see if that makes a difference. Don't think I can do any more to remedy this problem. Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 she might just be narrower across the bridge of her beak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasperaliceuk Posted April 20, 2012 Author Share Posted April 20, 2012 Not counting my chickens.....but its still in place! I can see she is struggling a bit with eating - threw some mealworms in and she couldn't pick them up properly - she did get some though - I just felt a bit mean. Will be keeping a close eye on her tomorrow - as I've been doing my volunteering stint this pm and couldn't check her. Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 She ought to be able to get pellets out of the feeder, some hens take a little bit longer to get the hang of it. Try making some pellets up into a wet mash for her if she hasn't grasped it by close of play tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasperaliceuk Posted April 29, 2012 Author Share Posted April 29, 2012 Touch wood, all seems to be well. The bumper bits are still in place and don't seem to be bothering the girls. I haven't seen any pecking although can't see a great sign of refeathering yet. The Bluebell is the worst plucked right now - with all this wind and rain she must be feeling a bit chilly! I've got them on the Amino plus stuff. Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 The refeathering will take a while,but all of sudden they will start growing again. feather growing takes a lot of protein,so you could up the protein in their diet to help this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasperaliceuk Posted June 5, 2012 Author Share Posted June 5, 2012 Six weeks and yesterday found Rose's bit was off and she was gaily feather plucking again. So she now has another one on. Is it safe for them to wear them long term? Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 5, 2012 Share Posted June 5, 2012 Yes, no problem with leaving one on. naughty girl! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasperaliceuk Posted June 5, 2012 Author Share Posted June 5, 2012 Thank you! She is a minx but I do like her. Have to say the feather regrowth on all the others is still not brilliant. Although I have seen no signs of feather pulling with the bits on I do wonder what goes on in the house at night! Crafty so and so's. Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
