Chicken beeing plucked alive by others. Half the back, tail and base - Page 2

SeaChick

I love Duct Tape! I keep 2 rolls in my med supplies!

Thank you all. I too am having this issue.  Will try all suggestions and get back to you.

Thanks for all this information..I'm new at this...and I have 4 chickens with feathers gone on their behind areas. I will try upgrading their protein etc...

A plant we always grew in our chicken run was called Artemisia Abrotanum also called  'Southernwood' or 'Boyslove'. we grew it for the express purpose of keeping the chickens in tip top condition and to prevent feather picking. Through the 20 odd years we kept chickens we never had a case of feather picking, so whether it was the plant which helped to keep the mites and other insects down I don't know, but I shall certainly be putting it in my new run when I build it next week. It's certainly worth a try and cost only pennies for a plant unless you know where there is one and strike a sprig off yourself.  THis will not stop chickens from feather picking once they have started as they get the taste for it, but should help to prevent them from starting.

A really good catfood like Avoderm wet in cans or Wellness works great.  They look amazing after giving them this.  Now they want it all the time though!

Two of our bantams just went broody and the other 3 big ones are now picking on them and plucking their feathers.  I have sequestered them in raised cages to try and break the broodiness and let their feather heal up.  I am hand feeding them catfood so they will eat more protein as well.  Hopefully this will work.  I'll report back in a few days.  Any thoughts on what to put on their head wounds...creams?

You wont believe this, but i found that putting a little vinegar stopped the plucking. No kidding.  

Where can I get kelp meal?

So the kelp meal a person would give to chickens is the same as what you would use in your garden as an organic fertilizer, or is there something I am missing?