Cochin pulling out foot feathers

[Ese_N_Gracie]

My Main Man Ese has taken to pulling out his foot feathers. I've made sure he doesn't have scaly leg mites, but his legs are turning reddish. He is a buff bantam cochin. The feathers have always looked super uncomfortable to me but he only has the pins sticking out now....he isn't molting (nor has he yet...he's just a year old) I'm concerned for two reasons...most of his foot feathers are blood feathers...so he bleeds from this...secondly I'd like to know if this is a sympton of something more serious.... Thank you for any info!

Madena

 

[silkiechicken]

If he's pulling out his pin feathes and making himself bleed, I'd say he may be bored (give more to do/free range?), lacking in protein (supplement with higher protein feed or catfood sparingly), lacking in methionine (feed black oil sunflower seeds), or has a taste for blood (can't help here, beef strips?), or mites (check for buggies).

Best of luck!

 

[Ese_N_Gracie]

He definitely isn't bored...he is the hardest working rooster in the chicken business! He has acres to call his own! The supplement thing sounds interesting though...god knows I love to give them treats! I'll check more closely for mites...but he's the only one out of 7 to be doing this...I've gotta get a picture of him looking at the bottom of his foot! way to funny! If you think of anything else please let me know

M