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

[AndyRoo]

Hi all,

 

Long time no see!

 

Rich & I finally went down the route of laying down some patio in the garden, and moving the hens on to that (with a layer of bark chipping as before). We've also extended the run another couple of meters to give the girls some more space. I'll post some pictures once the rest of the garden is done as right now it is a chaotic mess as I am working my way through tidying it up and planting trees and bulbs etc.

 

While we were moving them to their new home, I noted that our Bluebelle seems to have a somewhat bare red bottom, and I think she might be being pecked at. I did a double-check for lice and mites and I can see neither - and I am continuing to use mite/lice powder bi-weekly when we do the cube clean.

 

Is there anything I can use to stop her being pecked at? I noted 'Omlet' sell an anti-pecking spray, but I'd seen online it had some mixed reviews.

 

Also, is there a way to help alleviate their boredom (which I know can be a cause of feather pecking!). They have all their perches and tree stumps to jump around on, and I've even hung some CDs on a little mobile which they seem to enjoy looking at.

 

When I give them veggies as treats, I try to hang them a little high on a piece of string so the girls have to jump up to get them.

 

I can't think of what else to do. Would they play with one of those cat toy balls with a bell in it!?

 

I'm also going to buy an additional amount of chicken fencing so they can free range a little in the garden to give them more space.

 

Any ideas are always appreciated!

 

Thanks,

Andy

[percy049]

How much run space do they have at the moment?

Does any pecking occur when you give them food/treats?

 

For the anti-pecking spray, it needs to be coloured (usually purple) to cover up the red patches on the chickens (chickens are attracted to the colour red)

[Millie-Annie]

I had to resort to bumpa bits to stop my feather pecking pair

[AndyRoo]

How much run space do they have at the moment?

Does any pecking occur when you give them food/treats?

 

For the anti-pecking spray, it needs to be coloured (usually purple) to cover up the red patches on the chickens (chickens are attracted to the colour red)

 

They have about 13 square meters between 5 hens, although that's now. Before that they had about 11 - so it's not like they were ever particularly cramped or anything.

 

I never actually see any of them pecking each other, at least not more than a brief peck to the back of the neck if one of them gets a bit annoyed. Oddly enough the one being pecked is the one who we had assumed was the head of the flock...

 

It's obviously only been happening over the last 2 weeks or so, because she has been completely fine until now.

[Luvachicken]

Don't get them a cat ball with a bell, get them a cat treat ball instead.

You can vary the size of the hole so different treats fall out.

It takes them a while to realise they have to kick it to get the treats but they enjoy it.

 

My Gemma, head girl, only seems to start pecking, usually around the necks, once spring arrives.

[Mars]

Hang cabbage and carrots, you can also Isolate the affected hen, if she is getting better then probably it is pecking, if not the cause could be something else

[AndyRoo]

Don't get them a cat ball with a bell, get them a cat treat ball instead.

 

My Gemma, head girl, only seems to start pecking, usually around the necks, once spring arrives.

 

Maybe I'll try a treat ball for them.

 

I have a suspicion about which girl it might be doing the pecking, as she's the one I've seen her nipping at the necks of the others. I have also noted that she has started a weird behaviour whereby she is kicking all of the hay bedding out of the nesting box, and I have no idea why.

 

I am really hoping it is all just boredom in a way and maybe by them having more space and things to do that she'll snap out of it.

[Hippie Chick]

Are you sure she isn't just moulting? I had two chickens moulting their bum feathers last time and their bald areas were bright red - if fact when I went Googling it I found it was often referred to as 'beefsteak'! One of those was a Bluebelle, the other a Speckled Sussex.

 

My girls are moulting now and have been for a couple of weeks, they're losing neck feathers and the Rhode Rock has an ugly red line that looks like she's been hurt, but it's just the painful feather loss and regrowth.

[AndyRoo]

Are you sure she isn't just moulting? I had two chickens moulting their bum feathers last time and their bald areas were bright red - if fact when I went Googling it I found it was often referred to as 'beefsteak'! One of those was a Bluebelle, the other a Speckled Sussex.

 

My girls are moulting now and have been for a couple of weeks, they're losing neck feathers and the Rhode Rock has an ugly red line that looks like she's been hurt, but it's just the painful feather loss and regrowth.

 

I suppose she could be going into moult... but wouldn't I be seeing a lot of feathers floating about the place? I'm not sure what to expect from a moult as this will be the first time our girls will have ever moulted.

[BridieLou]

Our Dolly started moulting about six weeks ago. At first I didn't notice many feathers about - they get kicked under the straw / chippings pretty quickly. She looked dreadful for a fortnight, then the new feathers started coming in (they're sharp and look like cocktails sticks!). Now she's in full bloom and looks great!

[richardbridge8]

I have had almost the exact same thing with our three girls.

 

I have started using the anti-pecking spray so will see whether that works or not. Let me know how you get on!

 

By the way, what are bumpa bits?

[AndyRoo]

I have had almost the exact same thing with our three girls.

 

I have started using the anti-pecking spray so will see whether that works or not. Let me know how you get on!

 

By the way, what are bumpa bits?

 

Bumpa bits are essentially little bits of rubber that go over the end of their beaks to stop them being able to fully close their mouths and, as such, it prevents them from pulling out feathers on other birds. They can still eat and drink ok, but they should only be used for a couple of weeks.

 

I personally don't like them coz I think they're a bit mean, but each to their own... if I get desperate enough I may have to re-think that!

[Luvachicken]

The treat ball I bought is a 'Cat It' cat treat ball.

I got it in a local pet shop but have seen them on Amazon.

 

I used to have the yellow ones you can get specially for chickens from Pets At Home, but I once found them split open and thought it could easily shut on a head or foot, so removed them.

[Millie-Annie]

Bumpa bits aren't mean, my two ex batts had them on permanently. They were fine, they ate, drank, even learnt to pick meal worms up with them on, they even managed to feather peck occasionally with them on, little monkeys they were.

 

What was mean was the way they completely pecked Octavia my Orpington bare. She had no feathers at all around her back end and they were slowly stripping her front bald too, so bumpa bits it had to be. They feather pecked each other too. I tried them without but by then the new feathers had come through so they were drawing blood and no way was I risking cannibalism

 

If you do decide to try bumpa bits, dont buy the Omlet ones. They are not long enough and they can still feather peck. Buy some from Cotswold Chickens they are much better and easier to fit