Pinless Peepers

[Chwicks]

I’m dealing with feather picking in my flock and I’ve ordered Pinless Peepers as a last resort.

We live in North Wisconsin and are having temps of single digits for highs and negatives for lows.

Is there an added risk of frostbite on the beak/ head area when using Pinless Peepers because of the moisture from respiration being impeded by the Peepers?

This may be a stupid question, but these are my first chickens and I read a review on Pinless Peepers where someone said this happened to their chicken (frostbite due to Peepers).

Thanks!

 

[featherhead007]

I have never tried those peepers, so I don't know. I only added things for my hens to do. Treat ball. hang a cabbage, mirror at chicken level. musical hanging wind chime.

 

[Chwicks]

I have never tried those peepers, so I don't know. I only added things for my hens to do. Treat ball. hang a cabbage, mirror at chicken level. musical hanging wind chime.

We’ve got lots of roosts, a xylaphone, tried a swing (no success), and feed a light helping of scratch mix 2x/day. I’ve done cabbage, but the runny poop makes that a minimal win. Plus, with 14 chickens, the entertainment doesn’t last very long.

Things are MUCH different in the Spring, Summer and Fall because they don’t have their run winterized and they get lots of treats/greenery from the garden. This is our first winter with them and it’s proving to be challenging, at best.

 

[aart]

How big is your coop?
Would be good to get the run habitable....Chicken Cabin Fever is Real and it's Ugly!

 

[Chwicks]

How big is your coop?
Would be good to get the run habitable....Chicken Cabin Fever is Real and it's Ugly!

The coop and run are both 150 sq ft. I don’t know what else I can do to make the run habitable. We’ve put a swing in there, tiered roosts, a xylophone. I let them out to run around when I’m cleaning out there, but with all the snow (despite the trails I have shoveled out for them) they don’t really go out in the winter. I’m kinda’ at my whit’s end.

 

[aart]

You've gotten a lot of advice on your other threads:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/overbreeding-and-feather-picking.1341900/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/feather-pecking-hereditary.1342098/

 

[Chwicks]

You've gotten a lot of advice on your other threads:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/overbreeding-and-feather-picking.1341900/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/feather-pecking-hereditary.1342098/

I’ve read through every response and am following as much of the advice as possible. Cut back on BOSS, trying to increase protein, ordered pinless peepers, checked/ing for mites and lice, etc. I just wasn’t sure what you meant by making the run “habitable”.

 

[aart]

I just wasn’t sure what you meant by making the run “habitable”.

In this thread(I think) you said run wasn't winterproofed(that's what I meant).....tho in another thread it looks like it is. That's the problem with starting multiple threads on the same topic.

 

[Chwicks]

In this thread(I think) you said run wasn't winterproofed(that's what I meant).....tho in another thread it looks like it is. That's the problem with starting multiple threads on the same topic.

Yeah, my run is winterized. This topic wasn’t about the picking problem. My question was about the Pinless Peepers and whether or not they can cause frostbite issue due to condensation build up around the beak/facial area.

My apologies for not understanding the intricacies of forum etiquette. I’m just trying to get help on a really difficult situation that is stressing me out.

 

[Steph on the Farm]

Yeah, my run is winterized. This topic wasn’t about the picking problem. My question was about the Pinless Peepers and whether or not they can cause frostbite issue due to condensation build up around the beak/facial area.

My apologies for not understanding the intricacies of forum etiquette. I’m just trying to get help on a really difficult situation that is stressing me out.

Chwicks--Did you end up getting the peepers? Just curious if you've seen any issues with condensation, if so. I have one hen whose apparent sole purpose in life is just to pick out her sisters' feathers to be a jerk--it's not a protein issue for her, she just does it because she can, I don't know. She's always done it, even in the spring and summer with 15 acres to roam but of course now that it's winter and they don't go out nearly as much, she's a lot worse...to the point of several hens with bare butts and one with no outer feathers all across her chest!! She's not my only picker but she's the worst and most consistent one. I still have been letting them out on fairly decent days and they really enjoyed having grass to eat again this past week with the warmer temps. Although, I did keep them in for over 2 weeks after a very close call with a hawk for two of them. Most of them don't mind a little snow and even if all they do is hang out in the lean-to area outside the human door, it's at least more space and something to do. I bought an arsenal of toys, like you, including a xylophone (which they're afraid of), a big mirror, jingle balls, suet holders with occasional greens and treat cakes, and a hanging loofah thingy that I can tell hasn't been touched. It's like they just want to be outside and don't give a darn about toys. They liked the mirror for like 3 days and they like the suet holders with stuff in them, but other than that...waste of money. And winter is JUST getting started... I don't know whether to separate her for awhile or get the peepers. She doesn't seem to care if I "scold" her or give her a "time out" (holding her, which she HATES! lol). She'll go right back to it.

Sorry...didn't mean to hijack your thread...just commiserating.