Unsecure chicken perches

[jasperaliceuk]

Just fitted my first bumpa bit. I've chickened out up till now and my daughter has done them all but figured as she is now living away from home I can't rely on her every time she comes back. Out of five chickens only two are left with bits on and the others have feathered up so nicely after a moult I just knew Rose was going to start bullying again - so she was the chosen one today. Ace will probably be next but I've run out of bits. I Its not a job I relish at all. Just hope I did it right - took it out once!

 

Sue

Edited January 17, 2013 by Guest

[suebee]

I don't envy you!

[Mrs_B]

You are braver than me - I had a bad pecking issue last year and bumpas were suggested to me and I just couldn't do it because I was worried I would hurt the hen!

 

I hope your flock sorts out the pecking issue, it's horrible to see them picking on each other!

 

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[jasperaliceuk]

We've had issues for a year now, one after the other. Two (including the worst one) still have baldish bots. To be honest, I don't find the bumpa bits completely stop them, although it certainly hampers them. Its so lovely to see the Bluebelle, Polly, who has had a huge moult with a lovely fluffy set of knickers. Her chest is still a bit manky and sprayed purple as I found her slightly bleeding the other day. I suspect Rose having had a peck at her. The Skyline is currently moulting to a lesser degree, her comb is quite pale. I am not sure the feather plucking will ever be totally sorted

 

Sue

[Mrs_B]

So sorry to hear that, Sue. It sounds like it's a habit that your chickens may find very hard to break because it's been so long.

 

I ended up separating my girls (I had 5 at the time) into two groups because it was getting too much and I also put in different activity/pecking items in their runs in different places too, so there were news things to do as well as a couple of feeding stations so there was less squabbling going on.

 

Is the Skyline the same as a Columbine? Mine was the one who was picked on because the other girls couldn't cope with her being so flighty!

 

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