Feather picking/eating.

[ChikaInu]

I'm in a panic.
Seems like just over night my 3 month old golden pheasants started going at each other feathers in a big way! Literally over night. Day before yesterday I was taking photos of their gorgeus new plumage and now it's a disaster.
They are not aggressively pecking and chasing each other but they are all at it, pulling out new tail feather growth. One got quite raw and red and then got pecked so I separated him since he started bleeding.
I have read the previous threads and understand I really need to get them a bigger run and get them out on the grass to distract them, but these birds are kept up at my job and I am not in charge of building the pen.
Any immidiate advice you can give me to get them through a day or two? Besides enrichment, what can I do?

If the joiner staff don't get going I will organize a temporary larger run myself, but that will still take a couple of days.

It really surprised me, straight out of nowhere the behaviour took such a turn!

 

[ChikaInu]

I am so upset. My beautiful boys!

 

[SilverBirds]

I would look into getting some pinless peepers or beak guards for them.

 

[ChikaInu]

I would look into getting some pinless peepers or beak guards for them.

Thank you. I bought some NetTex anti-pecking spray today but it sounded so horrific I am hesitant to use it. Is it a good idea at all?

 

[SilverBirds]

Thank you. I bought some NetTex anti-pecking spray today but it sounded so horrific I am hesitant to use it. Is it a good idea at all?

I personally have never used it before. What is horrific about it?

 

[ChikaInu]

I personally have never used it before. What is horrific about it?

"Highly flammable liquid and vapour. May be fatal if swallowed and enter airways. May cause allergic skin reaction. Causes serious eye irritation. Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. Keep away from heat.... yadayada flammable.
Wear protective gloves. If SWALLOWED immediately call POISON CENTER/doctor... " and it goes on.
I worry about putting this on the feathers my birds will preen and/or eat. I have seen some scary reviews too. Sometimes google is not a blessing.

I know they have to cover everything when writing disclaimers on a bottle but this one makes me hesitate.

 

[SilverBirds]

"Highly flammable liquid and vapour. May be fatal if swallowed and enter airways. May cause allergic skin reaction. Causes serious eye irritation. Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. Keep away from heat.... yadayada flammable.
Wear protective gloves. If SWALLOWED immediately call POISON CENTER/doctor... " and it goes on.
I worry about putting this on the feathers my birds will preen and/or eat. I have seen some scary reviews too. Sometimes google is not a blessing.

I know they have to cover everything when writing disclaimers on a bottle but this one makes me hesitate.

That would make me hesitant to use it as well. Definitely look into getting the pinless peepers.

How many pheasants do you have, and how much space are they in?

 

[ChikaInu]

That would make me hesitant to use it as well. Definitely look into getting the pinless peepers.

How many pheasants do you have, and how much space are they in?

I have already ordered some beak guards to have on hand. Thank you for that! I just hope they will fit on my tiny birds.

I have four at just twelve weeks that are absolutely due a larger run - it has been in the works to build them an aviary for many weeks now but everything else always gets priority it seems. I don't have exact measurements but maybe 3 x 2meters.
I was very surprised at how fast this came on. They get new plants every second day or so, fresh dirt with grubs and I sit with them and scatter food several times a day. I have seen nothing of this behaviour until yesterday.

Worst case I can hopefully net off a section of the much larger chicken/duck area and let them in there until they have a more suitable aviary. Maybe the change of scene will help break the behaviour as well?

 

[Rowanh16]

I'm in a panic.
Seems like just over night my 3 month old golden pheasants started going at each other feathers in a big way! Literally over night. Day before yesterday I was taking photos of their gorgeus new plumage and now it's a disaster.
They are not aggressively pecking and chasing each other but they are all at it, pulling out new tail feather growth. One got quite raw and red and then got pecked so I separated him since he started bleeding.
I have read the previous threads and understand I really need to get them a bigger run and get them out on the grass to distract them, but these birds are kept up at my job and I am not in charge of building the pen.
Any immidiate advice you can give me to get them through a day or two? Besides enrichment, what can I do?

If the joiner staff don't get going I will organize a temporary larger run myself, but that will still take a couple of days.

It really surprised me, straight out of nowhere the behaviour took such a turn!

you could try aprons/dresses if you can get a hold of them. might take two people to get them on and doesn’t always stop pecking but usually helps and also stops sunburns

 

[ChikaInu]

you could try aprons/dresses if you can get a hold of them. might take two people to get them on and doesn’t always stop pecking but usually helps and also stops sunburns

Thank you! Thank goodness it is not that bad yet and hopefully won't be, but I will keep it in mind. <3