Chicken Memorials

[Jenny Smedley]

Hi,

I have a hen being very badly bullied by four other hens and so have bought some Omlet Bumpa Bits & the Circlip pliers. Has anyone found a instructional clip of how to fit them - I've done a YouTube search and only found a scary foreign language one of a man fitting home made rusty wire rings to his hens but nothing else.

 

I have bought the "A" shape type & seen the written suggestions on here that says to warm the bits first, wrap the hen in a towel & to use Circlip pliers ( that I can't even put together - there is a choice of 4 different heads!!) but it would really help to actually see a video clip of someone fitting them.

 

All suggestions gratefully received- I'm confused !!

[Patricia W]

There is a video I think somewhere on here. Maybe a Mod can find it? It's easier with 2 people. One to hold the hen wrapped in a towel, and the other to use the pliers. At least that's how I remember doing it.

[Luvachicken]

It's easier with 2 people. One to hold the hen wrapped in a towel, and the other to use the pliers. At least that's how I remember doing it.

 

I agree.

We fitted beak rings on two of ours. They struggle and suddenly get very strong - make sure they are wrapped up tight a bit like a straight jacket.

Beak rings didn't need the pliers I just did it with my fingers.

 

Good luck with fitting them and I hope they work for you.

[Lewis]

I know one was made but I can't find it online!

 

There are some photos here which may help you - will see if I can get someone to upload the video to YouTube

Link

[Egluntyne]

Cripes! The bit in the link above is way to big for that chicken.

 

It looks like a rooster sized ring. 25mm rings are the correct size for the average hen.

 

This is the correct size.

 

 

More info here.

[Jenny Smedley]

Hi,

Many thanks for all the good suggestions . As an update - I fitted 5 Bumpa bits in about 10-15 mins on my own !! The secret I think was doing it at night with my head torch - the hens were really docile. ( pity video wouldn't show up in the dark) Also the Circlip pliers - I could fit the bits in seconds. The pliers work counter-intuitively so when you squeeze the handles together it opens the head wider & vice cersa.

 

The plier head I selected was a 90 degree double hooked or " 2 bent fingers" one- I could pick up the bit with each plier hook or bent finger in each hole of the bumpa bit , beside where it goes into the hen's nostril - when you squeeze the plier handles it opened the bit wider to fit it easily. (The Bumpa Bit was on a flat surface & the plier hooks were pointing downwards.) The "A" shape of the Bumpa Bit has two natural "holes" near the top, where the prongs go into the hen's nostril.

 

I sat on a garden chair then picked up the hen out of the Eglu Cube, wrapped her in a towel & sat her on my lap, holding her in the crook of my left arm. Due to the tight towel , only leaving her head exposed & the dark, she was quiet & didn't move. With my left thumb & first finger on each side I opened her beak & held it open. There was a little bit of squirming but I could still hold her OK with my left arm.With my right hand I picked up a Bumpa Bit with the pliers- hooks pointing down, into the holes next to where the prongs go into the nostrils . I squeezed the pliers & it opened the bit really wide. I then introduced the bit horizontally into the hen's beak - there is a flat middle piece of the "A" that goes into the beak just like a horse's bit into the horse's mouth. The Bumpa Bit prongs were then right by the hen's nostrils so I slowly released the pliers so each prong went fully into the nostril, until it touched a hard part - the septum? There was a bit of wriggle/jump from the hen at that point. I removed the pliers & then just checked that the prongs were fully inserted into the nostril - there is a small flap of skin that covers them & I didn't want to "pinch" it. The curved "Bumpa" part of the bit should be just beyond the hens beak so it can't stab at other hens & the flat part of the "A" inside the beak so she can't close her beak fully & pull feathers out. She didn't really react to her new "jewellry" apart from a couple of head shakes & she was returned to the Cube. You have to be quite firm & determined about it- it didn't seem to hurt them.

 

The next day I checked & all five still had their Bumpa Bits on and more importantly ,were eating and drinking normally. They are still trying to have a go at the bullied hen but can't cause her any damage, so hopefully she will heal soon.

 

Apologies for the length of this post - I just hope it helps anyone else who has to fit Bumpa Bits. My husband still hasn't stopped laughing at the sight of me, with head torch, cuddling towel wrapped hens on our garden chair, in the dark!

[SueChick]

Hi and well done!

 

Was reading your post and thought I'd attempt to explain how we put bits on but was then pleased to see your post further down explaining how you'd managed it! Well done - that's how we do it and its not too bad is it?

 

Glad you got on ok.