pinless peepers-newbie questions

[cobrien]

I ordered some pinless peepers and I'm nervous about following through with this! I've read about nose bleeds when you put them on. How can I avoid this? I am a softie and don't want to hurt them. It definitely looks uncomfortable to have the things stuck in their nostrils.

Also, I am concerned about them getting up onto their roosts at night. They currently hop up about 18" to their roosts from the coop floor, it is a bit of a clumsy operation even with full vision. Should I modify anything in the coop to help them get up on the roosts, like add a ramp or do you think they will be okay?

How long should I leave them on? I have 2 flocks, flock A has 4 hens, flock B has 2 hens, 3 from flock A will draw blood from the 2 in flock B if I put them together. The flock B hens are dummies and they don't run away, they just squat while they get pummeled. Flock A&B have been sharing the same run separated by chicken wire for 2 years now and still do not get along. I have kept them separate this long because flock B used to have a 3rd hen who was handicapped who had no chance of escaping the flock A bullies. She died of old age recently so I'd like to FINALLY have one flock and one coop and run.

Any other advice on using the pinless peepers would be appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[chicmom]

I have a friend that used them and she really liked them. She's a chicken fanatic and wouldn't use them if they were hurting the chicken. I believe she used them on a very mean Polish rooster she used to have.

Now, another friend of mine said that her hen was able to just put her foot on them and rip them right off.

I think you may just have to try them and see how they work for you.

What breeds of chickens are these? I know it's hard to watch the pecking order being established, but after a week or so, things usually calm down. Did you give it a chance?

Sometimes the best thing to do is put them together and turn your back for at least a day. Just don't watch. I think the drama is harder for us chicken lovers than it is for the chickens.

Something that might help you would be, before you put them all together, add a few new things for them to roost on, like some natural branches, and change things up a bit, maybe adding an extra waterer, or an extra feeder. That gives them the feeling that they're ALL going into a new coop. Kind of a distraction to them.

Good luck to you!
Sharon

 

[Uzuri]

Mine don't appear to have any problem aiming at the pop hole or roost while wearing them, so I wouldn't worry too much there, they just seem to make it harder for them to target things right in front of them, small, and close up. Kind of like the opposite of reading-glasses.

I put goggles on 8 hens and got one real nosebleed out of the lot (because that one got put on "upside down" thanks to the wild hen we were dealing with and had to be removed and replaced. She looked rather like a very small airplane). The trick is to either get the application tool, or get help -- the better you hold them still, the less likely you are to get bleeding. It mostly seems to occur when you catch the comb on the little pegs (and putting them on younger chickens, rather than fully adult hens, helps with this as well).

They will scratch and shake their heads for a while. Put them on right before bed and they'll have forgotten about them in the morning.

 

[ChickiKat]

never heard of pinless peepers... gotta say, that is kinda funny!!!