question on pinless peepers/misbehaving hens

[pippi_smiles]

My girls will not stop pecking each other and the rooster. They peck out feathers and eat them and cause injuries once the skin is bare. I believe it is a space problem, but until I have the money to purchase more fencing and lumber I have bought some pinless peepers. Anyone have experience with these? I was going to only put them on some of them. That was a mess. Soon as I put two pair on, the other girls and the roo attacked them. Sooooo all 16 got to wear them. None of them like them at all, and I really dont think I like them either. Two of the rhode island reds are crawl/walking, they are so unsure about them. And someone laid the smallest egg I've seen this morning. I really feel they are a bit stressed out by them. I put them on right before bed last night hoping that it would be easier for them to get used to them. Most of the girls are missing so many feathers do to pecking and mounting, and the roo has sores on his upper wings and side from the girls picking at him. I have saddles on most of the girls now, but now the top of their wings are bare from the roo. Any info or advice would be appreciated?

 

[SueT]

I have had success with pinless peepers on one hen, but it sounds like it may not be the answer for you. How many chickens are there, and how much space do they have? Maybe you need to rehome some of the chickens....

 

[Peep_Show]

I had a pair of RSL's that were velociraptors until I put the peepers on. They adjusted and calmness reigned. On a whim I took them off and they reverted to being terrors.

IMHO, the other birds attacking the peeper'ed ones was just a reestablishment of pecking order. And, yeah, your birds are stressed. Birds will adjust, but you can keep the peepers on just the worst-behaved ones.

You might want to reduce the number in your flock, install another roost, and/or up the protein content of their feed and provide more entertainment (chicken scratch, mealworms) to help alleviate the feather-eating problem. If you have bare-backed birds, a slathering of No-Pick or using chicken saddles will help the feathers grow back unimpeded by annoying beaks.

 

[pippi_smiles]

I have had success with pinless peepers on one hen, but it sounds like it may not be the answer for you. How many chickens are there, and how much space do they have? Maybe you need to rehome some of the chickens....

The run is 17X28 with a 7X7 coop

 

[pippi_smiles]

I had a pair of RSL's that were velociraptors until I put the peepers on. They adjusted and calmness reigned. On a whim I took them off and they reverted to being terrors.

IMHO, the other birds attacking the peeper'ed ones was just a reestablishment of pecking order. And, yeah, your birds are stressed. Birds will adjust, but you can keep the peepers on just the worst-behaved ones.

You might want to reduce the number in your flock, install another roost, and/or up the protein content of their feed and provide more entertainment (chicken scratch, mealworms) to help alleviate the feather-eating problem. If you have bare-backed birds, a slathering of No-Pick or using chicken saddles will help the feathers grow back unimpeded by annoying beaks.

I agree the Rhode Island Reds are definitely velociraptors! My black australorps don't ever want to be touched. In my buff orpingtons are the only ones that really don't mind you handling them. I built them a very large chicken Jungle Gym / perch, a sandbox and a chicken swing (they wont use) and they have a rotted pine tree stump in there too. Even built grazing boxes. It is in the works to make them chicken tunnels to the garden but just waiting on the funding and time to build at the moment. We are also considering half-day confinement for the rooster so the girls can get a break from him. We had two for the 15 girls but the black Australorp rooster was getting way too aggressive and they were getting wore out. Thank you for your the advice!

 

[pippi_smiles]

Well After figuring out square footage my 17X28 run, minus the 7X7 coop is about 427 square foot. That should be more than enough for my 16 chickens. They shouldn't be bored with all of the stuff that I've got in there for them. So the next step is to add more protein. And if that doesn't work I'll have to concede that I just have some jerk chickens. Just hate to see how they act with these peepers on. Took them out some boiled eggs today and they couldn't even see it when I put it in front of their faces. It was just pitiful

 

[aart]

Well After figuring out square footage my 17X28 run, minus the 7X7 coop is about 427 square foot. That should be more than enough for my 16 chickens.

But the 7x7 coop is way too small...and crowding aggression can start in coop and pervade everywhere. Time to downsize flock...or build a bigger coop.

 

[Peep_Show]

I've found that 4 square feet per bird inside/coop space and 10 square feet per bird run space works for my flock.
My coop is 4.5 x 8 and anything above 9 birds invites problems, even with two roosts therein. Ideally I'd have 8.

 

[Bound to Sea]

I was contemplating getting one or two pairs of peepers for my RIR and one for an Amerucauna. I just had someone attack my pullet. I have secluded her and going to clean her wounds. Are they recommended here? Thanks

 

[mphkim]

I had to euthanize one chicken due to old age and sour crop. Left me with one Red Sex linked that attacked new chicken (scalped Austrolope) out of pair of pullets after week of introduction. Chickens were separated two more weeks and Red has pinless peers. How long do I leave them on? They work as no more fighting and she does not pursue them in attack any more. She has had them on one day.