Pinless Peepers

[melissadennis0]

Newer to chickens but looking for suggestions. Having difficulty integrating 4 hens into existing flock. All are under 7 months of age and relatively the same size. Two hens nearly scalped two of my newbie hens today. I separated them and brought them back into their brooder and clean their wounds . Just wondering if anybody has used these peepers and would recommend them ? Are they safe? Can they still eat and drink with them?

 

[alexa009]

I have never used the pinless peepers but most chicken owners do and they don't affect eating or drinking at all. They usually do stop feather picking and are always a success.

 

[melissadennis0]

I have never used the pinless peepers but most chicken owners do and they don't affect eating or drinking at all. They usually do stop feather picking and are always a success.

Great thank you. I don’t want to hurt or anger my
Existing flock but the aggression from specifically two hens towards the 2 newer ones was out of this world. I was anticipating maybe the rooster going after them not the hens that are only 4-5 months old. Trying to integrate before it gets too cold out so the newer ones have time to adjust but not sure if this is the best way to go. Can’t hurt to try it I guess.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Did you just put them all together? Meaning you put them all in the same run without any separation in area of the run?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Welcome To BYC

Can you post some photos of your set-up? Coop/run and how much space of each (sqft)?
How did you try integrating them - were the "new" chickens placed next to the existing flock for a couple of weeks so they could see each other or were they just all put together?

Hens can be very aggressive to newbies. I'm sorry that you have a couple injured. Hopefully they will heal quickly so you can re-start the integration period.

Any other photos or information you would like to share would be most welcome.

 

[melissadennis0]

Did you just put them all together? Meaning you put them all in the same run without any separation in area of the run?

I placed them in the middle of the night. Many suggested this was an excellent way to integrate. Yeah, not so much. I have cameras so I watched them like a hawk and ran to them immediately once it started.

 

[Vanilla Gorilla]

I have used pinless peepers extensively over the last year or so. They don't inhibit any normal daily functions, and they definitely help with aggression.

My experience is that they aren't a long term solution to patterns of aggressive behavior, but I would think they'd help with something like integrating new flock members.

 

[melissadennis0]

Welcome To BYC

Can you post some photos of your set-up? Coop/run and how much space of each (sqft)?
How did you try integrating them - were the "new" chickens placed next to the existing flock for a couple of weeks so they could see each other or were they just all put together?

Hens can be very aggressive to newbies. I'm sorry that you have a couple injured. Hopefully they will heal quickly so you can re-start the integration period.

Any other photos or information you would like to share would be most welcome.

I have 4 newbies that I tried adding to the existing flock of 8. Original 4 born in April, 4 more in June and 4 in August. The August are Asian Blacks and the same size as the June group of girls and that’s the hens causing the problems. Here are a few pics. The first cage area is where our lab is and then their cage are and coop behind that. Coop is outside their cage but not sure how clearly it will show on the pic. Since I have two small children they don’t free range. Didn’t want to take that risk.

 

[melissadennis0]

I have used pinless peepers extensively over the last year or so. They don't inhibit any normal daily functions, and they definitely help with aggression.

My experience is that they aren't a long term solution to patterns of aggressive behavior, but I would think they'd help with something like integrating new flock members.

Great thank you.

 

[melissadennis0]

Did you just put them all together? Meaning you put them all in the same run without any separation in area of the run?

Yes, it was suggested to add them at night and many claimed this would make it a seemless transition. Didn’t work