snood pickers!

[syble]

how on earth do i stop snood pickers?! the buggers are a terror in one group, they can be outside with room to be an acre apart, but still they pick, whats up with that?! 1-2 months old, range of breeds/crosses. but they palm x are the worst!
Thanks
Sib

 

[ivan3]

Wear gloves. Use a wooden tongue depressor/break up some shims, etc. to shovel out a gob into a plastic med. cup and microwave for 5 sec. (soften up). Squeeze a little plain Neosporin onto PT and nuke for another 5 sec. Mix up thoroughly. Apply to snoods/caruncles/crown of head (posterior to eyes (don't want it melting off of top of head down into eyes). Rubber gloved hand can be used for application. Pine tar tastes bad enough that it will give pause to the worst of the pickers/yankers/pullers and stop the copycats altogether (more PT and less Neosporin for the recalcitrants).

Works to moderate the degree of injuries when/from sparring. The PT is a potent disinfectant/antibiotic - in large quantities it can be somewhat toxic. We've used it on the roo's comb in the dead of winter to keep hens from easy blood, and had good luck slathering on our three jakes when their hormones got the better of them. It does stain feathers (and anything else it touches). Most retail no-picks contain a modest amount of the same active ingredient.

(feathers are to take along with tar to town meetings with elected officials)...