Chicken bald back

[SuburbanChick]

I think a bumpa bit on Georgina the feather pecker is the only way to go. I thought she was pecking the other girls in the mornings but caught her pecking feathers out of all of them in turn this morning She is the chicken with the sharpest beak too!

 

I'm going to order bumpa bits and pliers I think but I I'm not capable of fitting them Is there anyone in the Birmingham area who could help or is there anywhere I could take Georgina to get one fitted? The farm I bought her from has no experience with feather pecking and bumpa bits.

[Beantree]

If you Google 'bumper beak bits' Suburbanchick, you will find an article on poultrykeeperforum with a close-up photo of exactly what they look like when fitted. Wrap the hen in a towel to stop wing flapping and get an assistant to hold her. Or get an assistant who feels confident following the instructions. It is important that the 'ball ends' fit properly into the nasal holes. Fit the bit from above with her beak held open and make sure the flat section in the middle is under the top beak.

[Egluntyne]

There are also some pictures on this forum, in the FAQ, showing how it should look when fitted.

 

~Click~

[The Dogmother]

I'm in Banbury if you are coming down this way - have fitted many a bumper bit for other folks in my time.

[SuburbanChick]

Thank you for your kind offer Dogmother. I may well take you up on it but at the moment I have fingers crossed that things are going to be okay. I isolated the offender for a bit, used lots of anti peck spray and, most important of all, I've stopped locking the Cube up at night. I feel sure that the pecking was happening in the early morning before we opened the Cube up because the mornings are so very light now. With the door left open I have no idea what time the chickens get up but I know they are all pootling about before 5am.!!! I did start getting up to let them out at 5am. but I really didn't thing that I could keep that up

 

The really good news is that Florence, who was looking a bit oven ready, is beginning to grow new feathers underneath already. As I said though, fingers crossed ......

[The Dogmother]

That's good news.

 

If you are using an anti-pecking spray, then be sure to adhere to the dosing instructions.

[SuburbanChick]

Eeeek ...... I've been pretty liberal with the spray

 

I've been using Johnsons anti peck for a about a week. I've sometimes sprayed twice a day though I've just read the instructions and it says "use daily" and I've found it impossible to spray from 12 inches away so it's been more like 6inches. I may have sprayed more than than I should when I found Jasmine's leg bare on the inside

 

What are the implications? I'm really worried now. I thought it was just something that tasted nasty in order to stop the pecking.

[Egluntyne]

Some of the anti peck preparations contain alcohol and the chickens were reeling about in a drunken stupor after a too liberal application. I'm not sure that this is still the case.

 

I'd take up the offer to fit the bumper bit, that way the victim can recover without having unpleasant tasting substances sprayed on her, which will make it difficult for her to preen.

[The Dogmother]

SuburbanChick, I am going to be between Banbury and Stratford (near Kineton) tomorrow, PM me if that helps you re meeting up to fit a bumper bit.

[SuburbanChick]

Just came back on the forum and found this Dogmother.

 

Think I'm going to see how things go this week. I've stopped using the anti pecking spray because, as was pointed out, it's really punishing the victims. I'm also worried that I've maybe used too much of it.

 

If the pecking starts up again I'll have to isolate the perpetrator in the cage and definitely get a bumpa bit fitted on her. Leaving the Cube door open though seems to be working at the moment.

[The Dogmother]

PMing you....

[Lewis]

I'm in Sutton and work by the NEC if you need any help