Plum Posted August 21, 2018 Share Posted August 21, 2018 (edited) I'd take care you if feed other stuff than chicken food that you mix grit in with it. You said they were eating wet pellets but being bullied away from it. Can you put a divider in the run to keep the dominant ones seperate Edited August 21, 2018 by Plum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rachel84 Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 Ok, we removed the bumpa bit from one of the hens. She was getting in a state and had started getting quite dribbly and ill looking. She is fine this morning and back to eating and looking happy again - if she starts feather plucking we will put another on her and try a slightly different position. I did a crop check last night and 3 of the girls are fine and eating the pellet mash I am giving and 2 are laying every day so must be getting enough. I have concerns over one of the girls still so I will keep an eye on her. I have increased to 2 food stations with mash so hopefully this will help, I would rather not separate them if I don't have to. The really bald one despite being at the bottom of the pecking order is the scrappiest and will fight to get her food and she is actually one of the girls I am not concerned about. It is nice to see new feathers appearing as well so hopefully things will get better They do try your patience sometimes don't they! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 They do! Adding some Biotin to their feed, or Vit Boost tonic to their water will encourage feather growth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rachel84 Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 I have been putting a supplement in their feed - it smells slightly aniseed-y and is a general health booster so hopefully this will help. The one remaining girl I was concerned wasn't eating did an enormous poo when I let them out this morning so something must be going in! I will continue with the current routine for the next 2 or 3 weeks and then reassess and hopefully remove the bumpa bits and see how they get on after that. Thanks for all the help and support. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 30mm bumps bits now arrived so fingers crossed she eats and can't eat feathers or flesh. Does it look right now. Bit short but as long as it works. Here's Omlet one with weak point the 30 and 40mm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 Biggest ones are 35mm sorry can't edit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 That looks perfect Plum. Should have thought of this earlier, but shout if you ever need any bumpa bits as I usually have a couple kicking around at home. Cotswold Chickens will send them out - I think they're about 20p, and they also stock circlip pliers. Rachel, the tonic that you mention sounds like Mineral Boost powder, which is excellent. One tip... if you drizzle a small amount of cod liver oil over the pellets and mix so that they are VERY lightly coated, then the powder will stick and not get left int he bottom of the feeder. That aniseed smell is probably Fennel, which increases appetite and promoted digestion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 Cheers, I have the circlip pliers I couldn't do it without. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 Plum, is that aubiose that you have in the run ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 (edited) No it's ossi_chaf strawsorb (rape straw). It dries up chicken poo well and looks clean for ages. Compost ok as well Edited August 24, 2018 by Plum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 40 minutes ago, Plum said: No it's ossi_chaf strawsorb (rape straw). It dries up chicken poo well and looks clean for ages. Compost ok as well Thanks Plum, although I bet mine would still eat it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 I had one who ate straw and ended up with a blocked crop stupid bird. I'd love to mix some sawdust in but I know they'd eat that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted August 30, 2018 Share Posted August 30, 2018 Pleased to report life is much easier. Maggie is eating fine with bumper bit and theres been no blood shed. Ive not seen her feather plucking either. They are much happier and quieter back together again. Long may peace reign. How are yours doing Rachel? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 30, 2018 Share Posted August 30, 2018 That's great news Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rachel84 Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 We're still doing ok at the moment. They cannot eat as well as I would have liked but we're managing and now almost 2 weeks in. The really bald one is getting feathers through and my cockerel is getting his tail feathers back so we're making progress! I did remove the bit from Gladys as she was really suffering and not happy but she is fine and laying happily again now! The other 4 still have in place. How long should I keep going? I'm not sure if 2 weeks will be enough or if I should persevere for a 3rd week? I think I will source the smaller ones you have next time Plum, they look like they will make eating easier and I won't have to worry so much! I might remove the one from the really bald one this weekend as I think she needs more food intake to regrow all of the feathers and I worry it will put too much stress on her - she looks quite thin but then they do tend to without the feather bulk! It's all a learning curve isn't it! Once they're all back to normal I need to do a run overhaul and another worming cycle before the weather gets cold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 If you send me your address by message I'll pop a couple of the 30mm bits in first class post for bald one. I got them from Domestic fowl trust for future reference http://www.domesticfowltrust.co.uk/products/info_apbb.html Think mine'll be on long term she's so focused on feather snatching. She's bald in places and loads of broken feathers from long term destruction by pekin now gone who couldn't cope with a bumpa bit. Just have to wait for a moult. Good that you're seeing feather progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 They had a bird at the CC yard, who was an absolute evil moo; she'd attack anyone, even the dogs. She wore a bumpa bit for most of her life.. it wasn't fun when a new one had to be fitted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 Heck what breed was she? Saw Robin picking at Maggie's feathers at one point today, it could have been dirt after a dustbath but will keep a close eye and one more time and she'll have one on as well for a bit. Perhaps she does it at night when I don't see her. Grrr serves me right for saying they were doing well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 1, 2018 Share Posted September 1, 2018 They'll settle Plum. Chickens have relatively primitive neural wiring and pick up/lean habits fairly easily, luckily most of them are easy to break. That rogue bird was a RIR, she was just plain bad and demented. Anthony didn't have the heart to despatch her after the owner took her in, she was better off in their home flock which has a good cockerel, but always had a bit on just to protect everything and every one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rachel84 Posted October 24, 2018 Share Posted October 24, 2018 Hi, Just a quick update on this little saga. All of the girls have been bumpa bit free for almost 2 months now and all are now fully feathered (fingers crossed it stays that way!). If anyone is wondering if it is worth the stress, it is - they are all happy and not feather plucking that I can see. I now cannot tell the difference between my 2 copper black marans which is lovely and worth all of the worrying! I do think if I did need to do again, I would use the intermediate sized bits that Plum had as the others were a little long but it did the trick and everyone survived the ordeal! Hope this is of use Thanks for everyone's help and advice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted October 24, 2018 Share Posted October 24, 2018 That's really good news, so glad it's worked for you. Must be great seeing the Marans fully feathered. I've still got the bit on Maggie she tries to pull feathers from back of Robin's legs even with it on. Not sure if she's successful but Robins in full moult and they're regrowing. No feathers in run so assume naughty Maggie is eating them. Just waiting for her to moult but she's still Mrs Stumpy. All calm and they're together so I see that as a win. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 24, 2018 Share Posted October 24, 2018 Great news - it's good to hear some positive news on bumpa bits; so many people don't like to fit them, or think that they are 'cruel', yet it's far better than having dead or injured hens. I teach bit fitting on my advanced course - I don't make them do it, but at least 2 or 3 people will opt out. Not a problem as they watch the others doing it, but as anyone who has fitted one will tell you; there's a massive difference between watching and doing with these things. Plum, where did you get the smaller bits from? It's good to have a note of the suppliers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted October 24, 2018 Share Posted October 24, 2018 They were from The Domestic Fowl Trust by mail order. Link to website Other places do them but just in large numbers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted October 24, 2018 Share Posted October 24, 2018 Reminds me, I think we need to do the Aracauna who is nibbling the Polish topknots! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 Just thought that I'd resurrect this thread - I had a lady on my Advanced course at the weekend; she had bumpa bits from Omlet with her and reported that they snapped, so she'd been unsuccessful in fitting them. They were very short - bantam sized, so no wonder they weren't fitting a full-sized hybrid. The plastic was very brittle too and broke as soon as we tried to open the circlip pliers in one. We do bumpa bit fitting on the course, so everyone got plenty of goes at it, and this lady left with 30mm bits, which she reports fit her naughty hen fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
