Why is my easter egger plucking my silkie?

[Ry123]

Hi everyone,
So I have been seeing my silkie losing some feathers the past few day I wasn't sure if she was plucking them herself so I kind of just ignored it. Tonight I saw my easter egger plucking her feathers it didn't seem aggressive at all my my silkie just stood still maybe she was scared? I am not sure why my easter egger is doing this she had never done this before. What should I do? They both seem happy and these two are usually always together what is causing her to pluck my silkies feathers? She has been losing feathers around her face and my silkie doesn't seem to fight back.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Look the Silkie over really well for lice and mites.

Sometimes chickens groom one another as well. Did you see the EE eating the feathers or just plucking them out?

 

[Ry123]

@Wyorp Rock when I went in the coop today there were some feathers on the floor but when I saw her pluck them off her she had eaten the ones around the face but left the ones off her wings on the floor.

 

[Jennykins75]

Hi everyone,
So I have been seeing my silkie losing some feathers the past few day I wasn't sure if she was plucking them herself so I kind of just ignored it. Tonight I saw my easter egger plucking her feathers it didn't seem aggressive at all my my silkie just stood still maybe she was scared? I am not sure why my easter egger is doing this she had never done this before. What should I do? They both seem happy and these two are usually always together what is causing her to pluck my silkies feathers? She has been losing feathers around her face and my silkie doesn't seem to fight back.

I had an Easter Egger do this. My Cochin's back was bare. I made a sort of fabric saddle (upside down and backward diaper). And I added ground egg shells to their diet. I honestly don't know which part of the equation solved the problem, but after about 6 weeks the behavior stopped. Good luck -- it is crazy annoying.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Check the Silkie for lice around the head and face.

 

[Ry123]

okay I will check tomorrow morning@wyorp Rock

 

[Ry123]

@Jennykins75 Thank you for the advice!

 

[Ry123]

@Wyorp Rock I checked her this morning and she doesn't seem to have mites or lice and everyone seems healthy. Could she be lacking in something or can this be a result of over grooming.

 

[Sueby]

I have a RSL that does this to others when something looks different about them. If they have a bare spot (I had a feeder that was breaking feathers) or if the EEs have food in their beard, etc, she will obsess & pluck them bare till I separate her. She is separated right now, actually, because I had a major shake up in pecking order & an EE got beat up & was missing feathers on her head/face - my Red started pulling what was left of her feathers so she is in her own coop/run for a couple weeks. So far separating her to break the habit has helped, we shall see shortly if it works again.

Maybe your silkie just looks a little different or she is just being over groomed. This happens a lot & doesn’t always mean there is something wrong but best to make sure there are no bugs, that you have enough space, everyone is healthy & eating properly & nobody is being picked on or beat up.

Good luck, it can be hard to stop if it’s an obsession. I have considered culling my red but thankfully, so far, I’ve been able to separate her & get her to stop.

Pinless peepers on the plucker can be an option too…

 

[Ry123]

Everyone seems healthy they are provided with calcium and have dull crops at night. If this is a result of over grooming do I need to seperate them? @Sueby