Pinless peepers and now can't eat or drink

[Kitana724]

I installed pinless peepers on my flock of 23 on Monday night (two days ago) due to feather pecking issues. Not the ideal solution, but it will be a while before I can make coop adjustments to prevent this in the future.

They adjusted well to having the peepers on, but now the issue seems to be that they are having difficulty accessing their food and water. I have a 5 pound hanging galvanized feeder and a three gallon galvanized hanging waterer. The chickens can't seem to figure out how to access the food and water as the peepers block the narrow trough where the food and water are. I put food and water down in a bowl this evening and they swarmed it. The good level on the feeder also doesn't seem to be going down. Can't tell as much with the waterer. It is not my intention to limit their access to food or water!

Any suggestions are welcome. The cheaper the solution, the better. TIA

 

[Lauren Kim]

Hmmm... I'm not sure if I like the "pinless peepers". Probably because I like things being solved out naturally- not with force and uncomfort.
The most common reason that hens pick each other's feathers out is because they don't have a source of protein. You can give them cat food, mealworms, or COOKED eggs.
If that is not the reason, or it is because a chicken is being bullied, separate the run so that the bullies are on one side and the chictims(chicken victims) are on the other. That way, they will get along with each other somehow. If they are fighting over the food, then simply just divide the feed into two different feeders.
Hope this helped!
Please reply if I misinterpreted your request for help.

 

[Kitana724]

While I agree, the pinless peepers have to be my current solution for a slew of reasons. Not ideal, but after trying a host of other solutions, that's where things are.

My concern is that they can't seem to access their food or water. Has anyone else had this issue? Any suggestions for how to make the food and water more accessible while they are wearing the peepers?

 

[Kathy Golla]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/pinless-peepers-poultry-cups.1212335/#post-19309760

Use the search function to search the forums, there are several posts about it.

If you want more info, tag azygous or 4boyz or people in those posts.

 

[sourland]

Unless feed is radically low on protein I have found that the most common cause of feather picking/plucking is overcrowding and boredom. Two things that happen in winter when birds are confined. Generally once birds can be free ranged/pen ranged the peepers can be removed, and they will behave. Allowed to go on too long it can become an irreversible habit. I think the OP has made the proper call here.

The only solution I can see is feeders and waterers with a larger base so that the birds can access them. Perhaps old fashioned V feeders and water pans with the wire protectors. These are old fashioned, and not certain if they are even still available.

 

[biophiliac]

Wow , that's quite a sight with all 23? wearing the peepers! Often just the bullies have to. Maybe after a bit you could remove from the more docile birds. Maybe just wearing them for awhile will provide an attitude adjustment for the pickers and they won't be needed forever.

I hope you get some good ideas from the peeper thread! Best wishes.

PS Your birds are very pretty!

 

[Welshies]

I am not a fan of the peepers either. It's like putting a bandaid over infection instead of just cleaning the wound in the first place.
What do you feed your birds? How many are in your coop and how big is it?
You should start letting them out during the day, as they need it. They are fine up to -30°C. I let mine out up till -20°C (-4°F)

 

[Lauren Kim]

I can't control you. You do what you want to do. But if you want them to have access to their food and water, then you should take the peepers off.

 

[micstrachan]

Beautiful flock! I think you may have to provide open containers of feed and water for now while they’re in the peepers.
Heads up, I think I see a swollen, bare abdomen on a mahogany colored hen in the background.

 

[Lauren Kim]

It would be best if you could just tell us the reason of using the peepers. We are a very open community and if you would just tell us the reason, we would be very glad to help.