The Poultry Keeper

Parrot · Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 89 Location: Norwich

I wrote on here a few months ago about how pleased I was to sit and watch my girls (ex-bats) just root around the orchard.
Somebody replied asking how many I would have next year (this year).
Well you guessed it, we have gained yet another ten birds.
Well the wife has really, she read in the local rag that a farmer was selling up so she went after his chickens. She got ten 20 week old birds few just a few quid.

Not bad considering when I first suggested that we had few hens, she was dead against it Exclamation

I dread to think if someone else says they want to get rid of their birds. I dare not let her near this forum just in case somebody says they want to lose a few birds.
I wouldn't mind, but it is me hat has to keep extending their run.
However, I do have a small problem. One of the newcomers is a bit spiteful and keeps picking on one of my girls, at times she give the others a real bashing. Any suggestions how to stop this ??
I seem to remember when I was a lad (a hundred years ago) that you could get 'Glasses' to stop this sort of thing, any one heard of them. Question

Woodburner · Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 7:15 pm Post subject:

Give her a good talking to! Laughing

Edit I have no experience of dealing with this problem myself but as noone has come along with proper advice I will give you some second hand suggestions Wink

Catch her and hold her down for a few minutes. If that doesn't help, isolate her for a few days, then reintroduce her. Good luck. Smile

Magpie · Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 642 Location: Norfolk

They are called poultry spectacles and generally considered a bit cruel these days.

Best bet in my experience is to separate the bully into a smaller run for a day or two so that the pecking order changes. I bought a "Rabbit Day Run" which is about 3' x 2' and 15" or so high and with a bowl of water and some food the odd hen has been put in there during the day for one day and that has sorted it very quickly - it is important to keep the bully in sight of the others though. A dog cage or similar would work just as well.

Tim

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3452 Location: Monmouthshire

Beak bits are what some people use, which you can get from Wernlas or the Domestic Fowl Trust. Personally I'd eat the bully.

Parrot · Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 89 Location: Norwich

Henwife !!! How could you ??????????????

It would be more than my life is worth to say to her indoors that one of the girls is for the pot !!!!
She would crucify me.

I live a very ' Henpecked life ' (guffaw, guffaw. )

Parrot · Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 89 Location: Norwich

Sorry, I forgot to add in my last post. Got a bit carried away with Henwife suggestion I suppose.

Anyway, I will try your suggestions, both giving her a good talking to ( I take it you do mean the hen and not the wife).
I will also try the isolation bit. Thanks for the tips. Very Happy