BeckyBoo Posted July 8, 2007 Share Posted July 8, 2007 We've noticed over the past few days, that our garden appears to be covered in feathers. First I wondered if something had attacked them, then I wondered if one was moulting but most of the feathers seem to be from our Gingernut Ranger who is only about 17 weeks old, and I think they moult at 1yr. Then we noticed that Rainbow seems to be pecking everyone elses feathers whenever they stand still. She's not pecking them as in bullying, she's not hurting them just pulling feathers out. Any ideas why this might be? She's generally happy other than that and has just started laying eggs (an absolute whopper today - double yolker!) Mrs Bertie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted July 8, 2007 Share Posted July 8, 2007 My theory is they do it simply because they enjoy doing it. I have two feather-pluckers, and they are both wearing bumper bits now. The situation gets worse, not better, I am afraid. I would recommend fitting a bumper bit immediately, as the new feathers will get plucked out again as soon as they are a few millimetres long. Alternatives are gentian violet, tea-tree oil and anti-peck spray; but a bumper bit costs only 10p and lasts indefinitely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted July 8, 2007 Author Share Posted July 8, 2007 Thanks for that, I did wonder but I don't like the sound of them! Do you know if there are any pictures of them on here, only I've never seen one and I'm not sure I actually know what I'm talking about!! Mrs B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannie Posted July 8, 2007 Share Posted July 8, 2007 Don't rule out the moulting possibility. Our Silver Nick went through a moult from about 15 weeks, and it's noticably delayed her sexual maturity. The man we got her from said this does happen with some hens. Her comb and wattles are only now beginning to grow (at 22 weeks), and I think we're a little way off having any eggs. She is gorgeous though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted July 8, 2007 Share Posted July 8, 2007 If you decide it is feather-plucking and not moulting, this is what a bumper bit looks like: I didn't like the idea either, but my Cochin had her bottom feathers pulled out so often she was getting sore. It's not as nasty as it looks, and the hen eats, drinks, and preens normally. If she is chief hen, she remains in that position: not being able to peck viciously does not affect the pecking order. She will continue to try to pluck feathers, but the bit in her mouth prevents her from bringing her beak together in the fine tweezer movement necessary for plucking; and the bumper in front stops her stabbing with her beak. It took months before I was brave enough to fit my first bumper bit, but it worked so well that as soon as my new hen stripped her friend's bottom bare she had one too. It's best to do it when you are feeling angry with the plucker, or else you will waver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah 2 Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 Where do you get bumper bits from? I've only able to find anti-pecking rings. Are these any good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 Anti-pecking rings are mainly for young chicks who aren't big enough to wear bumper bits. Most people get their bumper bits from Wernlas http://www.wernlas.co.uk/: the nice lady there just charges 10p each (which you pay in stamps) plus an SAE. I would get at least six: you may drop one and lose it, you may get another hen who needs one, you may want to help someone out, etc. I have some spare bumper bits but am holding these for emergencies (people at their wits' end who can't stand another day of bloodshed, hens killing each other two days before a postal strike, etc). It can take three days to get your bits back from Wernlas. I would recommend to anyone buying new chickens to buy bumper bits at the same time. Even if you don't need them, it is very reassuring to know that they are there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seagullukuk Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 wold these stop them eating plants too? I must say they do not look nice at all!! Then again as you say a plucked chicken is not nice either! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 No, it doesn't stop them eating plants, or anything else. It just prevents them doing the very fine tweezer pinch required to pluck out feathers. The hen gets used to it within an hour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 One of my hens is fitted with a bumper bit due to her plucking my other two girls. It was awful to watch her yanking their feathers out and she drew blood on one of them. It started off with her just feather pulling when they were dustbathing and turned into her ripping feathers out every time she was near them. Fitting the bumper bit was a little fiddly at first but now I wouldn't hesitate fitting one in the future as it has made a massive difference. She was completely used to it after about an hour and has no problem eating, preening etc. My girls feathers are now growing back nicely and I'm so pleased I did it. She still tries to grab hold of their feathers though but fails to pluck them!! I too have spare ones for emergencies because it was thanks to Gallina sending me a spare that prevented me from have a nervous breakdown a few weeks ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 Everyone who uses bumper bits goes through something like this: (1) I can't fit that nasty thing to my darling hen. (2) Darling hen does some more terrible damage to second darling hen. (3) Bumper bit is fitted, and owner is very distressed in the first few minutes to see hen trying to shake it off. (4) Hen with bumper bit is given special treats, gobbles them up without any problems, and immediately forgets (for ever) that the bit is there and is very jolly, bumptious, and normal. (5) Owner realizes it can't be any worse than wearing braces and everyone lives happily ever after. I would recommend to everyone to get some bumper bits as a standby. Pecking doesn't necessarily start when new hens are introduced: my hen took it up as a hobby after I had had her for eighteen months. The fiddly bit is getting the prongs in the nostrils: think of it as a stethoscope for the nose and remember that the beak is made of bone, not soft tissue, and it doesn't hurt at all. Buy a handful of bumper bits, in case you drop one or want to help someone else out (at 10p each, this is not much of an extravagance). It's not cruel fitting a bit: it's cruel leaving a vulnerable chicken in a confined run with nowhere to escape and at the mercy of one of these tweezer beaks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elaine C Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 Oh yes, I went through all of those 5 stages! It did take me a while to pluck (sorry ) up the courage to fit it. But now I have I also recommend the bumper bits. Now fitted to mental Kipper, she seems to have calmed down a lot and Syd and Nancy both nowm have feathers on their backs. She's quite happy wearing it and seems to cope with eating, drinking, pecking the ground and preening. In fact now I think of it I've not seen her trying to peck at the others over the last week or so. That said, I'm not removing it yet, just in case. E Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah 2 Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 I would like to get some bumper bits but the link doesn't seem to work. Most people get their bumper bits from Wernlas http://www.wernlas.co.uk/: the nice lady there just charges 10p each (which you pay in stamps) plus an SAE. I would get at least six: you may drop one and lose it, you may get another hen who needs one, you may want to help someone out, etc. Is there anywhere else that does bumper bits on the internet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 Sorry, the colon got hyperlinked in at the end by mistake. It should be: www.wernlas.co.uk Most people don't find selling bumper bits worthwhile at 10p a time: that is why I think the Wernlas owner is so kind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah 2 Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 Thank you i'll ring up tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 My son took some pictures of me with the chickens today. I thought you might like to see a picture of a hen who has been wearing a bumper bit for a month, so you can see how much she suffers, how thin and wasted she is, how dirty and ungroomed she looks, and how she lives in terror of the dreadful person who perpetrated the deed. Which hen is it? The ginger one on top! I was holding the sweetcorn on my head to keep it out of the way while we arranged the pose, but it didn't work. (I was wearing my very worst gardening trousers, but covered them with a caption. The Amber Star (white) really was sitting on my lap, but somehow looks faked.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 Gallina, that is a fab photo !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 Wonderful photo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted July 12, 2007 Share Posted July 12, 2007 That's a great photo Gallina - thanks for posting it Sure looks like a poor miserable chicken you've got there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 12, 2007 Share Posted July 12, 2007 I can see that she is really suffering Gallina!! What a super picture. A competition winner if ever I saw one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted July 12, 2007 Share Posted July 12, 2007 What a great pic! Get it off to a magazine - its a great way to show how much fun chickens are! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted July 12, 2007 Share Posted July 12, 2007 I have been educated today about the mysterious bumper bits. After reading all this I would not hesitate to get some in case my girls decide to give each other a feather cut. Great pic, too!!! It needs to be on the Omlet home page! Should this thread be added onto the pecking sticky already in existance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
