Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[dawniemegan77]

HI All

 

I have 6 brilliant hybrid hens, all have names and are very much loved and cared for. We have had a problem with feather plucking and have separated the two culprits, who now have their own half of the garden and a new house and run. All the hens are out in the garden from 6am until they go to bed themselves. I am constantly worrying about them having enough ground to starch around on, unfortunately they have no grass or other vegetation now, it is just soil which I turn over everyday whatever the weather for them, they seem happy enough starching around, I hang the veg up for them and spread treats for them so they can dig them up themselves. My hens even let themselves out of the coop on a morning into their runs. Then at 6am I let them into the garden.

 

What I want to ask, am I been selfish for keeping them in the garden, it is a big garden even though it is split into two for them, it still is a decent size, I can measure this so I can exact. They get everything they need. Any suggestions, I am an animal lover and just want the best for them

 

Thank you very much

Dawn

[Grandmashazzie]

Goodness Dawn it sounds a lovely garden. Any bit girls have will have no grass. I was just looking today at a distant neighbours side garden. It looks about 18 feet by 25 feet and not a blade of grass. The hens had half a tractor tyre and some were dust bathing others were scratching, they all looked very happy.

[Cat tails]

I think your hens might be luckier than most!

Mine only free range when I'm at home and that is in my tiny, mostly paved, garden.

 

Unless you have acres and acres, they will eventually kill/destroy anything green and growing. The only chicken resistant plants I've found so far are Lavender and thistles. But I think those will just be trampled if just stuck in the ground in the middle of the garden.

Maybe you could think of a few more mature shrubs and trees? Big enough to have plenty of leaves and branches well out of reach?

[Chickabee]

Selfish! My goodness no, sounds like you're doing a great job

[dawniemegan77]

HI To all

 

Many many thanks for putting my mind at rest, you are very kind and I would like to post my photos, can you tell me how to do this and how to change my password

 

Once again thank you

 

Dawn

 

Amber, Ginger, Caitlin, Hetty, Henny and Penny.

[Cat tails]

Photo's are mandatory!

 

But you'll need to have posted at least 5 times before you can add them.

Easiest way is to upload them to Photobucket or Flickr. From there you can copy a link starting with .

If you have any issues you can always ask!

 

What type of hybrids do you have?

[dawniemegan77]

Hi

 

Thank you for information.

 

Ginger and Penny are Ginger Nut Rangers, Caitlin and Amber are Ambers, Hetty and Henny are black tails.

 

Have anyone else had problems with feather plucking? Mine have bare bums, there feathers are slowly growing back, I have used anti pecking sprays and Stockholm tar but it didn't really work for long. We have just noticed that the two we separated form the other four have started plucking each other now, any ideas what else to do?

 

Thanks again

Dawn

[Cat tails]

Oh that's not a nice problem to be facing. I hear (on this very informative forum) that it is a hard habit to break.

Two main things could be the issue:

- protein deficient: solved by feeding things like tuna or mealworms

- boredom: much harder to break, but offering extra distractions, like a cabbage hung from the roof of the run on a string, might keep them busy.

 

With very persistent pluckers you could try Bumpa bits. Little plastic guards fitted on their beaks.

[dawniemegan77]

HI Chatty Chicken

 

Thank you.

 

I have just looked at the bumpa bits and not really fond of trying them. How do they eat with those on?

 

I also found an article saying that they cut 1/4 inch off the top beak, but how likely is it go through a vein? This method apparently stops them closing the beak so they are not able to pluck. I don't want this to start up again as I though I had c racked it by separating them from the others, it has been 4 weeks and only started again tonight.

 

Many thanks

Dawn

[Cat tails]

Actually removing the tip of the beak is mostlikely much more traumatising than a Bumpa bit. But it does about the same. With the bit, they can't close their beak completely either, but are still perfectly able to eat and even pick up things from the ground.

Loads of people here have either fitted bumpa bits in the past or have hens still wearing one.

[dawniemegan77]

HI Chatty Chicken

 

Many thanks, will have to think about what is best for them.

 

 

Thanks again

Dawn

[dawniemegan77]

HI

 

The problem of plucking seemed to settle down again but now is worse than ever, has anyone used the pinless peepers and are they ok?

 

Many thanks

Dawn

[gavclojak]

They seem fitted to be the same as bumpa bits and by the looks of it do the same job. I would try to separate the bullied hen and put her in with another low ranking hen and keep those two together until they bond then after a few months or so then try to reintroduce them as you would new hens. Slowly.....very slowly

[dawniemegan77]

HI

 

Many thanks for reply, I have read up about the peepers and apparently are illegal in the UK, so that's no good, I will try what you say, other thank that I really do not know what to do,

 

Thanks again

Dawn

[gavclojak]

Check the obvious, ie making sure they have enough space/distractions etc....by the sounds of it that isn't the case for you but if separation doesn't work they you will have to consider bumpa bits, if the feather plucking gets worse and blood is drawn you will have a big problem then, buts let's hope it doesn't get to that

[dawniemegan77]

HI

 

Thank you, no blood has been drawn thankfully, we are considering the bumpa bits, but don't they seem a little cruel, maybe just me that I am too soft.

 

Thanks

Dawn

[Cat tails]

Not more cruel than to just let your hens wound each other!

[dawniemegan77]

Are they easy to put on?

 

thanks

[jimnpaula]

Video link in this thread:

http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=100129

[dawniemegan77]

thank you

[dawniemegan77]

I have just watched the video link, does this affect their breathing,?

 

Thanks

[jimnpaula]

They can still breathe with one fitted as the bumpa bits do not completely plug the nostrils ('nares' on a chicken) and also they can breathe through their mouths in the same way we can.

[dawniemegan77]

Thank you, I think this is the next step, thank you all for your help

 

Dawn

[dawniemegan77]

HI All of you that replied

 

Sorry it has taken so long to let you know, that feather plucking is over. I ordered a sample pack if the bumpa bits and with them came a beak clip, this goes through their nostrils the same as a bumpa bit but it isn't as clumsy, anyway the two hens have one on each and feathers growing back lovely.

 

Thank you again to all who replied

 

Dawn

[Ain't Nobody Here]

That's good news .