I think I found a miracle cure for feather picking

[Cluckies]

Good Idea, if I get the next batch and they are way to big as well, i'll have to do that. Thanks!

 

[Lacy Blues]

I was out this morning, watching my young birds when I noticed some particularly ugly behavior by one of them!!!!!!

I snatched her up and removed her to a cage by herself. She's not happy but until I figure out if her behavior can be modified (since she is quite young) she's gonna have to live alone for a while. It's not protein related as they have a good high protein feed. I moved them recently to a larger pen so they have more room. I hadn't seen any of this kind of behavior before today but apparently the other birds have. If she came toward them, they would scatter. I don't think she has been successful in pulling out any feathers as I was watching her as I came into their pen. She had grabbed feathers on different pullets and was tugging but couldn't get them out. The reason I spotted her in the first place is because I saw her carrying something. Then she ate it. I realized it was a feather tip but I hoped it was one from the ground. So I watched her and she confirmed my suspicions. Little BRAT!

I don't have any peepers to try on her and I'm really not inclined to go that route. If I can put some kind of small chicken bit on her, maybe that will frustrate her attempts and she will give up. Also, if I put her back in there and she looks "strange" to the others, maybe she'll get driven down the pecking order and she'll stop on her own.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Here is a pic of her with her new bit.



As you can see, she cannot close her beak and therefore cannot pull feathers. I also trimmed her upper beak back to the quick and I know I'll have to keep trimming it, probably weekly as it will be growing quickly. I hope she stops this ugliness as she really is a pretty little thing and I'd like to keep her. However, in a few weeks when I take it off, if she resumes her attempts , I will have no choice.

She is getting plenty of attention but no one is being mean to her but her attitude is definitely a lot different than it was earlier. She may still get lower on the pecking order... that's ok. As long as nobody pulls feathers.

 

[sunflour]

Here is a pic of her with her new bit.



As you can see, she cannot close her beak and therefore cannot pull feathers. I also trimmed her upper beak back to the quick and I know I'll have to keep trimming it, probably weekly as it will be growing quickly. I hope she stops this ugliness as she really is a pretty little thing and I'd like to keep her. However, in a few weeks when I take it off, if she resumes her attempts , I will have no choice.

She is getting plenty of attention but no one is being mean to her but her attitude is definitely a lot different than it was earlier. She may still get lower on the pecking order... that's ok. As long as nobody pulls feathers.

Aren't you worried she cannot eat ? Aren't you worried if you trim too much you'll damage the underlying bone on the beak and it won't grow back.. Sorry if this makes you mad, but seems a little extreme to me.

 

[azygous]

No worries about the bit preventing eating. They adapt within an hour or so, and eat as well as the other chickens. The only thing they have trouble with is nibbling on something hard like an apple or squash. But I have some who have even managed those foods.

Trimming the beak up to the quick does no harm. It grows back very quickly as Lacy indicates. We've had experience with these implements and procedures. Trust us. They don't harm the chickens, and they don't suffer in any way and adapt quickly to wearing both bits and peepers.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Thank you azygous.

Sunflour, I know you don't know me but please rest assured that I would NEVER do anything to hurt my birds.

Do you ever trim your fingernails or your toenails? It's the same thing. Do you cut beyond your quicks? I doubt it. I don't either.

I also ferment my birds' feed so it is wet, I don't feed little tiny dry crumbles. They can get big mouthfuls of it if they want.

The way I figure is this... it takes eight full weeks for humans to break a bad habit. I will leave this bit on her for eight weeks. Right now I hope its enough of a distraction that she isn't thinking about feathers. As time goes by and she cannot pull feathers, I'm really hoping that by the end of the next eight weeks she will have stopped thinking about them completely.

 

[sunflour]

No worries about the bit preventing eating. They adapt within an hour or so, and eat as well as the other chickens. The only thing they have trouble with is nibbling on something hard like an apple or squash. But I have some who have even managed those foods.

Trimming the beak up to the quick does no harm. It grows back very quickly as Lacy indicates. We've had experience with these implements and procedures. Trust us. They don't harm the chickens, and they don't suffer in any way and adapt quickly to wearing both bits and peepers.

Thank you azygous.

Sunflour, I know you don't know me but please rest assured that I would NEVER do anything to hurt my birds.

Do you ever trim your fingernails or your toenails? It's the same thing. Do you cut beyond your quicks? I doubt it. I don't either.

I also ferment my birds' feed so it is wet, I don't feed little tiny dry crumbles. They can get big mouthfuls of it if they want.

The way I figure is this... it takes eight full weeks for humans to break a bad habit. I will leave this bit on her for eight weeks. Right now I hope its enough of a distraction that she isn't thinking about feathers. As time goes by and she cannot pull feathers, I'm really hoping that by the end of the next eight weeks she will have stopped thinking about them completely.

Thank you for responses….I had never heard of the the chicken bit things. I didn't know they could swallow if the couldn't close their beaks.
Also, thanks for not getting your feathers ruffled, and taking my questions in the light I meant….learning something new nearly every day.

 

[azygous]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/697052/i-think-i-found-a-miracle-cure-for-feather-picking/240 Flip back to this page and you can see photos and read about Flo getting her Bumpa bit. She had a bit more trouble than other hens I've installed them on, but she did adapt well after a few hours.

None of my flock is currently wearing any of these devices or peepers. But as their new feathers are coming in, I've caught a couple nibbling at the pin feathers of their mates.

 

[Lacy Blues]

I didn't like the bumpabits. Sure they are great to start with but as their beaks grow, they meet that ridge at the edge and it keeps their beaks from getting longer. However, the beak continues to grow and the bits force a change in the shape of the beak. Now those, I imagine, cause pain eventually.

 

[azygous]

Can you get us a closeup pic of your bit? And where did you buy them?