bullying

[hawthorns]

has anyone heard of or done top beak clipping to stop bullying

[Noodle]

No, you can get little rubber rings you put on though I think. If you trimmed it back enought to stop bullying I think it would hinder eating, I not sure though. I'm sure someone will let you know!

[lynda66]

5 NEW BANTAM ANTI-PECK BEAK BITS, POULTRY,CHICKENS,HENS on eBay, also, Poultry Hatching Incubation, Pet Supplies, Home Garden (end time 30-Dec-08 22:16:22 GMT)

noodle means these, i would say definitely worth a try if it's still the feather pecking.

[Hilary B]

Commercial 'barn egg' producers beak clip as routine. I don't think it is something to be done on an adult bird by an amateur. Our first POL hybrids had been clipped (presumably because most of his customers were keeping them intensively), but you couldn't actually see much difference apart from on one of them.

[lynda66]

apparently beak clipping is also very painful

[Flummery]

I've hear this too Lynda - I gather it can damage nerves and continue to give pain afterwards.

[MaureenHall]

Oh no, couldn't do it or want it done to my girls!! I know they do it in intensive farms, but these are our pets! I'd try something else to curb the bullying

[Snadger]

It isn't done for bullying it's done to prevent feather pecking methinks................. not only other chooks but themselves through boredom in the cage!
Some of mine were beak clipped when I got them as they were destined, or had been......... in the cage!

[Noodle]

the barn and ex-batts we get at the rescue are beak trimmed, but it causes some to grow out deformed and it can impare their eating. One of the hens I collected on Sunday has an over trimmed beak and you can see into her mouth when her beak is shut!
I saw a few where the beaks were growing out at the sides as well, not nice, they can be filed rather than clipped in this case. Poor little things!

[hawthorns]

has anyone tried anti peck beak bits. ive sprayed anti peak spray but she is still getting her feathers plucked out. i really want this stopped asap.

[lynda66]

never tried them, but they arent expensive, so i guess they have to be better than a vet bill ...... and it really needs stopping as soon as possible ........ have you tried adding some toys too, to take her mind off it, theres a thread about keeping them occupied a few weeks ago

[Suechooks]

Have you tried spraying her with gentian violet? Its an antiseptic type thing but may deter as they don't like the taste. I also tried Stockholm tar on one of mine as she had really sore wings after coming out of cage and was bleeding as the feathers grew back so some of the others were pecking her. Its pretty messy stuff but worked a treat - smells like tar and does stain the feathers for a while but I only put it on her once and it stopped. I know someone who used beak clips. i think they worked ok but they can still poke the others even if they're not pecking so hard. I heard somewhere they make it more difficult to eat.

[hawthorns]

ive spray the bare patch with some spray from the vets and it went voilet. ive now sprayed her twice with anti peck spray. she is still getting pecked. i will continue to spray for a few days then ill have to try something else. ive heard that ukadex is supposed to work

[CountryFayre]

ukadex is pretty good. Unfortuantely the only real cure is to find out which bird is doing it and why, otherwise it will just re-occur. If you can find the offending bird, remove it from the others for 7 days and then when it goes back in it will be at the bottom of the pack. There is also the problem that the other birds will catch on and start doing the same. Some ideasthat may help: Increase feeders & drinkers, feed mash rather than pellets, hang up a couple of cd's

[hawthorns]

we only have 2 chickens.

today ive hung up 2 cds, dangled a apple from string, put 2 small branches thru the run so they can perch on. poked 2 cabbage leaves thru the bars on the cage. at the weekend i will go into the woods to get a couple of rotting logs they can peck at.