To pinless peeper or not to pinless peeper- that is the question

[spiceholler]

I'm considering using pinless peepers for my rooster who has singled out one of my senior hens who is not laying. Last year he was bullying her so much so that she ended up running away for a day or so and then when she came back she decided she wanted to sleep on the porch in a cat carrier instead. The bullying behavior seemed to have stopped last fall and we thought we were good, but now it's spring and I'm assuming his hormones are ramping up and so is the bullying, still against that same sweet old girl.

Can't find anything on pinless peepers for roosters and wondering if this will flub him up when he attempts to mate and lead to further frustration.

 

[mrskenmore]

I'm considering using pinless peepers for my rooster who has singled out one of my senior hens who is not laying. Last year he was bullying her so much so that she ended up running away for a day or so and then when she came back she decided she wanted to sleep on the porch in a cat carrier instead. The bullying behavior seemed to have stopped last fall and we thought we were good, but now it's spring and I'm assuming his hormones are ramping up and so is the bullying, still against that same sweet old girl.

Can't find anything on pinless peepers for roosters and wondering if this will flub him up when he attempts to mate and lead to further frustration.

I mean.. you can always try it to see if it works? If not you can remove..

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I mean.. you can always try it to see if it works? If not you can remove..

Yes.

 

[mrskenmore]

okay- here is the latest update for you all

Mrs. Butterworth- Peepers are still on since January, she is doing really well with them

Lucille Roberts- Peepers came off after 3 weeks, she was doing well

Luna Lovegood- never got the peepers to stay on her little face so she went peeperless while I monitored the other 2 with peepers to assess further

Yesterday 3-19 I came home and there were a lot of feathers among the coop (I clean regularly to see if there is any pecking ocuring)

I noticed that my flock leader had her feathers ripped from the base of her tail. It was either Luna or Lucille

So Lucille got the peepers back on and Luna is separated within the flock so she can look but not touch.

Hopefully this solves the case - will continue to keep you all updated

If only I could get Luna to keep the peepers on I would have peace in the flock

I was so angry yesterday when I saw all of those beautiful feathers ripped out of my gorgeous partridge rock since everyone just molted and it will be another year until they grow back

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Sorry, @mrskenmore. But it does sound like the pinless peepers are working, if they will just stay on. Is it time to think about rehoming the hen that's getting pecked?

 

[mrskenmore]

They are working indeed! You mean rehoming the hen that is doing the pecking? I am going to try to see if separating Luna and Peepers on Mrs. Butterworth and Lucille Roberts work. I am not at the rehoming stage yet... but Luna is a lavender orpington and she has the dreaded shredder jean that I believe makes her seek out an exhorbitant amount of protein which is why she pecks and eats feather perhaps. Not an excuse- just asking for the why. If that is the case and I rehome her, won't she pluck someone else's flock?

Just curious

 

[BigBlueHen53]

It sounds like you're not sure who's doing the pecking. So it was my thought that rehoming the one that's getting pecked might be the best way to protect her. Of course, if you can figure out who's guilty, and rehoming HER, you may just be passing on a problem bird to someone else.

As for your theory regarding the shredder gene, I don't know. I had a cockerel with that fault, but there was no evidence of feather picking in the bachelor flock in the 4 months or so that I had him. To my way of thinking (and I could be wrong) the shredder gene has nothing to do with a lack of protein. You may have straight hair and mine may be curly, and no matter how much protein I eat, my hair will always be curly. It's genetic, not nutritional.

 

[mrskenmore]

Hi all! Latest update- we separated Luna in a crate for several days. Mrs. Butterworth and Lucille Roberts have adjusted to peeper life and are doing great. There is definitely less feather picking, pulling and eating for sure!! So I will chalk this up to a win. The question now is do I remove the peepers now that warmer weather and spring is here

Let me know your thoughts!!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Hi all! Latest update- we separated Luna in a crate for several days. Mrs. Butterworth and Lucille Roberts have adjusted to peeper life and are doing great. There is definitely less feather picking, pulling and eating for sure!! So I will chalk this up to a win. The question now is do I remove the peepers now that warmer weather and spring is here

Let me know your thoughts!!

You can only give it a try and see what happens! But be ready to put the peepers back on if they revert to their bad habits! Is Luna back in with the flock or still in a crate?

 

[mrskenmore]

You can only give it a try and see what happens! But be ready to put the peepers back on if they revert to their bad habits! Is Luna back in with the flock or still in a crate?

Luna is back with the flock- I haven't seen her pick a feather since and it has been about a month