XPost:Pinless Peeper experts.....need advice

[keaniebeanie]

I posted this on the flock management thread and haven't had any luck there. Hoping someone can give me some advice.
Keanie


I have one poor BR who is almost featherless and 5 other bare bottoms. I have seen only 1 major offender. I bought the pinless peepers about a month ago and just haven't been able to get them on. I borrowed some snap ring pliers and this afternoon while my Father was here for a short visit had him hold the offender. I got one side of the peeper in properly but the other side didn't seem to go in right. After the initial shaking of the head, scratching and the other girls pecking at them she seemed to be fine with them. On closer inspection she was bleeding by the nostril and it seems that it was from the side that was in proberly. I then removed the peeper. Anyone else have an issue like this? I need to get them on but don't want to injure my girls doing it. Thanks.

 

[keaniebeanie]

I should also add that I have added protein to their diet and there are feathers growing back, but still more getting pulled out. No feathers in the coop or the run, plus I have seen her pick and then eat the feathers. I know that more than just one is picking but she is the only one I have caught in the act.

I am trying to let them free range as much as possible now that the weather is nicer but I work 3 days a week. I let them out for a couple of hours on those days if time allows. I won't let them range unless we are home.

 

[mxpres]

are you sure the pinless peepers are intended for chickens or other birds? such as pheasants

 

[keaniebeanie]

yes, bought them from eggcartonsforless.com.

 

[peepacheep]

I did not have ring pliers but soaked the peepers in very hot water for a few minutes to make the plastic flexible. Had no problem getting the on the RIR that was picking the rooster's butt feathers. The peepers worked great on the RIR but the BA that picked all the other hens' feathers was another story. The BA shook the peepers off twice in one day, the second time cutting her comb above the nostrils. Let that heal and tried again a week later. It was a 2 person job to get them firmly clipped on her so that they stayed on. For this chicken it was not the end of the problem. She had been making life miserable for the others, with the peepers on her transition down the pecking order did not go smoothly. On the second morning after clipping them on I found her huddled under the roost her comb and waddles a bloodied mess. Brought her in the house to clean her up, took off the peepers and saw that blood had gotten down her nostrils. Within a half hour she was wheezing and had bubbles forming around her eyes. Gave her a course of Tylan 200 for 3 days, tube fed her on the 2nd day when she had not eaten for over 24 hours. It took several days for the wheezing to clear up. That was 4 weeks ago. She has laid 18 eggs in the past 20 days, she is doing great but she is still living in the house.... It will be interesting getting her back into the flock and finding out if she will continue plucking feathers. Fingers and feathers crossed it will go smoothly!

 

[eggsited chickens]

I just put a peeper on my buff orpington. I've seen her pluck feathers from butts and necks and one hen hardly has any feathers left. I hope it's on good and won't do any harm! But now she is just laying around sleeping whereas she would constantly be pecking at the dirt and fellow hens. I hope this doesn't put her over the edge and into depression.