Chicken Blinders Safe?

[Allycia]

Question:
About three weeks ago one of my arucannas was severally pecked. I immediately cleaned the wound and put her in isolation. Now that the wound has completely healed I tried to reintroducing her, but have not been unsuccessful. The pecking has continued. So I did some research and came across the pin-less blinders. However, I live in Northern Illinois and this week the temps are in the negatives. Is it safe to use the blinders in such cold temps? I'm worried about their nostrils freezing. Also don't the blinders restrict their breathing?

Background:
I am a first time chicken mom. I have a small backyard flock made up of eight hens (1 barred rock, 1 buff orpington, 1 delaware, 1 new hampshire red, 2 arucanna, and 2 brown leg horns.) They are 7 months old and have been together since they hatched. They started laying right after Thanksgiving. They have a spacious coop and run (8x20) with plenty of fresh water and organic feed (New Country Organics Layer No Corn/No Soy.) I wrapped the run in plastic for the winter to protect them from the wind. I also use supplemental lighting for a few hours each day in the morning and at night.

 

[Mrs. K]

What does your run look like? Is it just an open rectangle? Sometimes I see those. There is no place for a chicken to get away from another chicken and out of sight. So if so, set up some platforms, some mini walls, some roosts in your run. Add an extra feed bowl and water station, where a bird can eat out of sight of the the main feed bowl.

Adding a single bird to an established flock is the hardest introduction. To your flock, this is a stranger bird if she has been gone 3 weeks. I never separate birds because of this. When the birds begin pecking on a victim bird, this is often a sign that there is not enough room for them. Some birds and some breeds can tolerate closeness better than others. What is enough space for some, may not be for others, being raised together really won't help a space issue. Regardless what the measurements are, your birds are telling you that this is not enough. I would imagine that there was tension in your flock.

I myself, got chicken math, and did not even recognize the tension until I had a predator help me out. With in days of the flock reduction, I could tell the whole flock relaxed. I took a head count, and that is what fits in that set up.

You can try a couple of tricks: the afore mentioned additions to the run. Another is to take another bird, from the middle of the pecking order, and put her with your injured bird. They will fight it out with some scuffles, but one on one is not too bad. Wait a week, then add the pair back to the flock. They will have each other, and the others will spread the pecking out over both of them. It might work.

Or it might be best to let the victim go to another flock, or to supper or to plant a rosebush. It may seem harsh, but better than being pecked to death, and that is a real possibility.

Mrs K

 

[Mrs. K]

I have heard good things about the pin- less peepers, but have never tried them myself.

 

[aart]

What does your run look like? Is it just an open rectangle? Sometimes I see those. There is no place for a chicken to get away from another chicken and out of sight. So if so, set up some platforms, some mini walls, some roosts in your run. Add an extra feed bowl and water station, where a bird can eat out of sight of the the main feed bowl.

This^^^
I think the blinders work...as a last resort...hard to put them on the whole flock if only one bird is being pecked on.

Oh, and, Welcome to BYC!

Basically you are doing a single bird integration.
Why she got pecked so bad to begin with is worth investigating also.
Pics of coop and run might help us help you.

Meanwhile here are some integration tips and tricks:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-a-single-hen-to-an-existing-flock.71997/

Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

 

[GC-Raptor]

So I did some research and came across the pin-less blinders. However, I live in Northern Illinois and this week the temps are in the negatives. Is it safe to use the blinders in such cold temps? I'm worried about their nostrils freezing. Also don't the blinders restrict their breathing?

I currently have two hens wearing pinless peepers for two weeks today. Temps have gotten down near zero Fahrenheit and twenties during the day. Today the temps are in the forties.
I took them off a third hen last Saturday morning. It was near zero and she seemed to be weak, sitting on the ground near my feet and wanting attention. I removed the pinless peepers. Later in the day she was fine.
I plan on removing from a second hen today.
It is hard to install/remove alone. The pliers are hard to remove from after installing and hard to get in to remove.
But they do work great, my five girls were all getting along nicely and the hen that was molting is looking great. The third hen that will wear the peepers another week was plucking the new pin feathers out of the molting hen. The other two would chase her away from the treats. . There are different types. I have the ones that have a space for the comb. Some don't. . Also you need an open feeder and waterer, mine couldn't use the 2 gallon fount or the 12# feeder. GC

 

[Allycia]

I currently have two hens wearing pinless peepers for two weeks today. Temps have gotten down near zero Fahrenheit and twenties during the day. Today the temps are in the forties.
I took them off a third hen last Saturday morning. It was near zero and she seemed to be weak, sitting on the ground near my feet and wanting attention. I removed the pinless peepers. Later in the day she was fine.
I plan on removing from a second hen today.
It is hard to install/remove alone. The pliers are hard to remove from after installing and hard to get in to remove.
But they do work great, my five girls were all getting along nicely and the hen that was molting is looking great. The third hen that will wear the peepers another week was plucking the new pin feathers out of the molting hen. The other two would chase her away from the treats.View attachment 1260831. There are different types. I have the ones that have a space for the comb. Some don't.View attachment 1260833 . Also you need an open feeder and waterer, mine couldn't use the 2 gallon fount or the 12# feeder. GC

Thanks for the advice on the water bucket. I had the nipple waterer and I noticed they weren't/couldn't drink. Where did you find the blinders with the extra space for the comb? I have a couple of brown leg horns with really big combs.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Thanks for the advice on the water bucket. I had the nipple waterer and I noticed they weren't/couldn't drink. Where did you find the blinders with the extra space for the comb? I have a couple of brown leg horns with really big combs.

I got mine on Amazon under chicken blinders. I ordered the 21 yellow blinders with pliers, and got 20 red with pliers. Para-wish seller for $16.23. GC

 

[M Butz]

Can blinders be put on a rooster to deter aggression?

 

[aart]

Can blinders be put on a rooster to deter aggression?

I would think so....tho don't recall them being used, or even suggested.
Give it a shot and let us know @M Butz , you may be a pioneer!

 

[50-45-1]

I purchased mine in Amazon, 13.00 for 24 blinders and the tool to put them on.
I had one feather picker last fall. I had rescued 6 hens from a production farm that clears out all there 3 year olds. I k

new i had a feather picker the first day by the looks of the others. 2 days later i could pick her out. She wore the goggles for over a month. ( it was winter then) after the other girls had there feathers back PAST the pin feather stage, i took them off her and she seemed to forget all about eating feathers.
Here is my bad girl.