Chicken Glasses or Goggles - Pecking Problems!

[ClevelandRick]

Hi All,

I have only 3 birds and 1 has been terrorizing the others and pecking feathers along their backside and chests to the point that there a bald batches. I've tried blu kote and I'm also doing as much as I can to prevent boredom and/or any diet deficiency, but I've read that it can be very difficult to stop this kind of behavior once it starts. I don't have the space to keep them separated 24/7, so I might have to remove her. Before I do, though, I want to try everything possible to solve the problem. Has anyone used or heard of using chicken "glasses" to deter pecking? They are not glasses really, but red blinders that supposedly stop a chicken from pecking. See http://www.amazon.com/Plastic-Lives...27722028&sr=8-1&keywords=chicken+eyes+glasses

Any help? Thanks in advance.

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. You may want to remove the hen from the flock to a cage for a week, with food and water, and then try her back in the flock, to see if she is lower in the pecking order. Do you let your birds outside where they can roam during the day? That can really make a difference if they can spread out, and it helps them to become distracted from pecking. Also a bad tasting cream such as Nustock, Bag Balm, or Vicks may help. I am not familiar with this product, but many use pinless peepers or trim the beak to help with this problem, and these may be similar Here is a link for for the pinless peepers: https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/pinless_peepers.html

 

[ClevelandRick]

Thanks for the quick response and the advice! No, I don't have the space to allow them to roam. I've tried to keep distractions, straw to scratch, insects to chase, etc., in their run, but I definitely believe the problem developed out of boredom over the winter months. I'm really worried now, since I don't really have the room to separate them in their enclosure-- but I'm working on the idea.

I'm hoping more will respond with any recommendations for those pinless peepers. I've also discovered a product called Bumpa Bits: https://www.omlet.us/shop/chicken_keeping/chicken_health/10750/bumpa_bit_-_25mm_-_single/ and I'm wondering if anyone has tried them.

Thanks, again, for your help! I will try a bad tasting cream.

-Worried Chickenkeeper

 

[Amy smith]

Thanks for the quick response and the advice! No, I don't have the space to allow them to roam. I've tried to keep distractions, straw to scratch, insects to chase, etc., in their run, but I definitely believe the problem developed out of boredom over the winter months. I'm really worried now, since I don't really have the room to separate them in their enclosure-- but I'm working on the idea.

I'm hoping more will respond with any recommendations for those pinless peepers. I've also discovered a product called Bumpa Bits: https://www.omlet.us/shop/chicken_keeping/chicken_health/10750/bumpa_bit_-_25mm_-_single/ and I'm wondering if anyone has tried them.

Thanks, again, for your help! I will try a bad tasting cream.

-Worried Chickenkeeper

Hi did the eye glasses work? I’m having the same problem