Quell usage

[chix]

hi, i have 16 hens with a terrible habit of picking at eachothers feathers. i just picked up a pump bottle of quell. the box says "anti-picking spray". has anyone ever used this before? does this effect the eggs, meaning will the eggs be safe to eat while using this treatment? i can't find any information and i'd appreciate any help.

maria

 

[adoptedbyachicken]

Does the bottle say what's in it? An ingredient list would help. As for more natural ways to stop picking try increasing the protein in thier diet, the total space they have, and entertain them with other things to pick at than each other such as vegies hainging from cords. Heads of cabbage work really well and last long.

If you have to seperate the really badly picked hens but keep them beside the others, just wire between.

 

[chix]

Quote:
the active ingredient is lidocaine hydrochloride.
other ingredients are: purified water, hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Benzalkonium Chloride, Quinine Hydrochloride (anti-picking agent), Polysorbate 20, Disodium EDTA.

 

[justusnak]

Quote:
What a great idea! Hmmm, I think I will give this a try!

 

[SkeeredChicken]

Just out of curiousity, do they preen each other? As in cleaning each other? Or is it like they're attacking? It may just be normal social behavior.

 

[chix]

Quote:
they actaully pluck eachothers feathers out. all of my chickens have large bald spots, mostly on their backs and heads. it's really bad.

 

[merryreader]

I don't see how it will affect the eggs. I had the same problem for most of the winter. I have 12 hens and a rooster and bald backs and butts. I let them out last week to free range at will, and they still pick a little, although there are new feathers coming in.It is slowed WAY down. This is the ONLY way I could get mine to stop. I've tried everything else, except seperating the pickers. Too many pickers to do that. Good luck. Merry

 

[chix]

Quote:
so the eggs from your hens were okay to eat? nobody got sick?

 

[hencackle]

You're ok with this product. If you have had tonic water then you've tasted the bitterness of quinine in a dilute solution. Your chickens won't have leg cramps at night

I had a friend that had to take quinine for leg cramps or she couldn't sleep.

The lidocaine hydrochloride = anesthetic
quinine hydrochloride = the bitter agent, from the chinchona tree bark
hydroxypropyl methylcellulose = thickener
benzalkonium chloride = fungicide, bactericide
polysorbte 20 = emulsifier
disodium EDTA = chelator to provide stability

Stephanie