paulad Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 I seem to have 1 maybe 2 feather eaters - what can i do ?? I know its a habit that needs to be broken - dont really wanna go down the Bumpa route yet Any ideas thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulad Posted October 9, 2013 Author Share Posted October 9, 2013 Also i know its sometimes due to lack of protein so i have been trying to give them extra but how much should i give and how often ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackian Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 Hi Paula, A Friend of mine has two girls who feather pull and she has not yet found the answer after nearly a year ..sorry .. She has found that it is not done in a nasty way no blood etc., they just sort of preen them selves and others as well. One of them looked like one of those bare necked chickens .I know you can get purple spray etc., but nothing seems to work but she has not gone down the bumper route. She has talked to her vet about it and reckons that once they moult they should get their old feathers back but that's not certain. Is there any blood or nastiness and bullying ? I seem to be all doom and gloom but don't mean to be ..I am sure someone will be along with better advice . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulad Posted October 9, 2013 Author Share Posted October 9, 2013 no blood yet !! nastiness, sometimes, we have only just introduced new birds just over a week ago. So its partly that. BUT i think it was going on before the new hens arrived as one hen has got feathers missing. Im just more worried now because the new hens are ex bats and they dont have many feathers anyway !! we r spraying with anti pecking spray and it does seem to work for a while but then wears off. think i will up their protein but dunno by how much and how often ?? thanks for the reply. all info /advice is good x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackian Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 I don't know about how much protein but I think it is things like tuna and of course the meal worms.What about cod liver oil ? I know my girls have that sometimes when their eggs are brittle or soft . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 I used the anti peck spray twice a day, a liberal spraying before bed helped! Poor you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulad Posted October 9, 2013 Author Share Posted October 9, 2013 yeah doing the pecking spray twice a day already x think im gonna up the protein for a while and see if it makes a difference - just don't know how much - every day ?? once a week...I give them sunflower seeds, they aren't really keen !! They have had tuna - gonna do the boil eggs thing next !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted October 10, 2013 Share Posted October 10, 2013 This is a bit controversial, but I had a poorly hen not so long ago (I know yours aren't poorly) she was off her food. I gave her yoghurt and dog food, the type you get in foil containers. All the girls went mad for it. She's so much better now please don't tell defra! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted October 10, 2013 Share Posted October 10, 2013 Have you tried the UKADEX anti peck spray ? It absolutely stinks - like a million ash trays - so be careful what you are wearing when you use it. I think you use it every few days on the victims for as long as it takes if I remember rightly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulad Posted October 10, 2013 Author Share Posted October 10, 2013 haha dont worry i wont tell might try that then and also keep up with the extra protein for a bit longer. really dont want to use the bumpas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulad Posted October 10, 2013 Author Share Posted October 10, 2013 luvachicken - not sure what brand it is - but i will check tonight - thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted October 10, 2013 Share Posted October 10, 2013 luvachicken - not sure what brand it is - but i will check tonight - thank you I typed Ukadex anti peck spray into google and it comes up fine. It is a bit expensive though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted October 10, 2013 Share Posted October 10, 2013 What about grated cheese. It's higher in protein than tuna or eggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted October 10, 2013 Share Posted October 10, 2013 What about grated cheese. It's higher in protein than tuna or eggs Isn't cheese too salty for chickens ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted October 10, 2013 Share Posted October 10, 2013 Yes your right luvachicken. What about plain cottage cheese Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted October 10, 2013 Share Posted October 10, 2013 I've got two Polish bantams, one a frizzle called Shirley Bassey (she's got black and gold feathers) and the other smooth feathered pure white called Madonna. They are the very best of friends to the extent that if one can't find the other, they call till the other appears ( very sweet really). BUT. ... Every summer for the past 3 years, Madonna has plucked Shirley B till her chest, head are more or less bare. The first year, I used Anti -peck, nettex, the lot...Separating them just caused both distress. Nothing worked. In the autumn, Shirley B grew her feathers back and she was absolutely pristine by the following spring. Next summer, the behaviour started again. We are now into the third year, and this year I have just left them. Sure enough, now the weather is getting colder, Shirley B is getting her coat back. Now this may be a result of some deficiency in Madonna or simply that she is " preening" Shirley B too enthusiastically. I don't know and have decided to let live. It hasn't harmed either in the long run so until it does I'll also live with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulad Posted October 11, 2013 Author Share Posted October 11, 2013 Wow thats weird !! haha Well we think Matilda has been doing it to Gwen for a fair few months - just the ones on her back - but she has plenty of feathers for us to not worry too much, She is now defo doing it to the exbats and our worry i guess is because they dont have enough feathers to start with so losing more isnt good !! BHWT have suggested smearing the exbats with vaseline or sudocream ?? Might try the cottage cheese too - but how often shud i be giving extra protein ?? thanks for all the replies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
