I kept 2 roos in with 17 hens over the winter. Come spring the roos gave the hens a run for the money and left them looking pretty shabby, missing feathers on their backs and heads. Once I collected fertile eggs to hatch I sent the roos off to freezer camp. That was 5 or more weeks ago. The trouble is, the hens don't appear to be filling back in with new feathers. I'm just wondering, am I being impatient, or are they picking at each other and pulling out the new feathers as they come in?
How long will it take for the feathers to grow back in?
If they are feather pecking:
How can I catch the culprit?
They don't do it in front of me. I try to keep an eye out when I'm in the garden adjacent to their enclosed paddock.
Is there anything I can do to prevent it?
They have 100 square feet of fresh green pasture per bird, so they have plenty of space. Free choice water, layer ration, oyster shells, and grit. Intermittent treats
of BOSS, scratch, weeds, and kitchen scraps. 5 nest boxes, lots of roost space. They do make a lot of noise when they are laying. They are mixed breeds.
There is one hen with feathers picked from the vent area as well, but I thought I had culled the culprit at the same time as the roos.
Thanks for any advice.
How long will it take for the feathers to grow back in?
If they are feather pecking:
How can I catch the culprit?
They don't do it in front of me. I try to keep an eye out when I'm in the garden adjacent to their enclosed paddock.
Is there anything I can do to prevent it?
They have 100 square feet of fresh green pasture per bird, so they have plenty of space. Free choice water, layer ration, oyster shells, and grit. Intermittent treats
of BOSS, scratch, weeds, and kitchen scraps. 5 nest boxes, lots of roost space. They do make a lot of noise when they are laying. They are mixed breeds.
There is one hen with feathers picked from the vent area as well, but I thought I had culled the culprit at the same time as the roos.
Thanks for any advice.
