9 week old pulling feathers from flock mates and eating them

[kkim]

I've searched the forums and read various reasons for feather pulling but I'm wondering if this is ever a young cockerel behavior in a young flock? I suspect it is the only cockerel in my nine week old flock of 15 though I don't have full confirmation yet with obvious wattle, comb, spurs or crowing. He has more curvy tail feathers and was very slow to feather in. My gut is telling me it's a roo by the curve of his tail but so far no long pointy saddle feathers. All the others appear to be pullets so far. He is a Columbian Wyandotte.

My flock is mixed breeds: wyandottes, orpingtons, marans, welsummers and EE's.
My space for them is: 8 X 9 indoor coop with two 8 feet roosting bars but they are currently only using one. 8 X 15 outdoor run where I house the food and water.
They are fed Purina medicated starter/grower and I occasionally add Braggs ACV to the water. I have not wormed them yet....is it too early to do so?
I treat with limits meal worms, occasional fruit and veggie scraps and weeding materials from the property. The last few weeks they've had the grass inside the run but it is diminishing now. They are not yet free ranging.

His behavior the last 3 days that I've noticed is to intentional pluck one of their back feathers until it is released and then he eats it. Some of them will squawk and move away but he is persistent and follows them until he gets one. Then he moves to another girl and does the same thing. In the process a few of the downy feathers will fly out and that makes the others chase them. I am worried this is an abnormal habit that will spread so before I remove him I thought I would see if this could be a normal boy testing the girls out behavior. It seems awful young to me for that but I have absolutely no experience with this.. it's my first ever flock!

They are closed in at night once they go inside to roost and the door opens at 6:30 AM. I keep the light out at night so they are not moving around and eating drinking. I wonder if this is too early for them to be away from food and water this long? I have a younger group that is in the brooder still and will be moving them into the coop in a few weeks. The light will probably go back on longer at that time so I can increase their light now if needed.

I boiled a few eggs yesterday to add protein but not sure if this will solve the problem...he seems to enjoy the sport of it. Any advice with this is most welcome. It's not my intention to keep a rooster (I ordered females only) and if the consensus is to remove him now rather than later I will do so! Thank you all...I am learning so much from reading the forums here!

 

[Poultrybonkers]

I've searched the forums and read various reasons for feather pulling but I'm wondering if this is ever a young cockerel behavior in a young flock? I suspect it is the only cockerel in my nine week old flock of 15 though I don't have full confirmation yet with obvious wattle, comb, spurs or crowing. He has more curvy tail feathers and was very slow to feather in. My gut is telling me it's a roo by the curve of his tail but so far no long pointy saddle feathers. All the others appear to be pullets so far. He is a Columbian Wyandotte.

My flock is mixed breeds: wyandottes, orpingtons, marans, welsummers and EE's.
My space for them is: 8 X 9 indoor coop with two 8 feet roosting bars but they are currently only using one.  8 X 15 outdoor run where I house the food and water.
They are fed Purina medicated starter/grower and I occasionally add Braggs ACV to the water. I have not wormed them yet....is it too early to do so?
I treat with limits meal worms, occasional fruit and veggie scraps and weeding materials from the property. The last few weeks they've had the grass inside the run but it is diminishing now. They are not yet free ranging.

His behavior the last 3 days that I've noticed is to intentional pluck one of their back feathers until it is released and then he eats it. Some of them will squawk and move away but he is persistent and follows them until he gets one. Then he moves to another girl and does the same thing. In the process a few of the downy feathers will fly out and that makes the others chase them. I am worried this is an abnormal habit that will spread so before I remove him I thought I would see if this could be a normal boy testing the girls out behavior. It seems awful young to me for that but I have absolutely no experience with this.. it's my first ever flock!

They are closed in at night once they go inside to roost and the door opens at 6:30 AM. I keep the light out at night so they are not moving around and eating drinking. I wonder if this is too early for them to be away from food and water this long? I have a younger group that is in the brooder still and will be moving them into the coop in a few weeks. The light will probably go back on longer at that time so I can increase their light now if needed.

I boiled a few eggs yesterday to add protein but not sure if this will solve the problem...he seems to enjoy the sport of it. Any advice with this is most welcome. It's not my intention to keep a rooster (I ordered females only) and if the consensus is to remove him now rather than later I will do so! Thank you all...I am learning so much from reading the forums here!

I would remove him for a few days then see if he does it still if he does then remove him for good. Usually they pluck if they are to crowded or lacking something in there diet

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I've searched the forums and read various reasons for feather pulling but I'm wondering if this is ever a young cockerel behavior in a young flock? I suspect it is the only cockerel in my nine week old flock of 15 though I don't have full confirmation yet with obvious wattle, comb, spurs or crowing. He has more curvy tail feathers and was very slow to feather in. My gut is telling me it's a roo by the curve of his tail but so far no long pointy saddle feathers. All the others appear to be pullets so far. He is a Columbian Wyandotte.

My flock is mixed breeds: wyandottes, orpingtons, marans, welsummers and EE's.
My space for them is: 8 X 9 indoor coop with two 8 feet roosting bars but they are currently only using one. 8 X 15 outdoor run where I house the food and water.
They are fed Purina medicated starter/grower and I occasionally add Braggs ACV to the water. I have not wormed them yet....is it too early to do so?
I treat with limits meal worms, occasional fruit and veggie scraps and weeding materials from the property. The last few weeks they've had the grass inside the run but it is diminishing now. They are not yet free ranging.

His behavior the last 3 days that I've noticed is to intentional pluck one of their back feathers until it is released and then he eats it. Some of them will squawk and move away but he is persistent and follows them until he gets one. Then he moves to another girl and does the same thing. In the process a few of the downy feathers will fly out and that makes the others chase them. I am worried this is an abnormal habit that will spread so before I remove him I thought I would see if this could be a normal boy testing the girls out behavior. It seems awful young to me for that but I have absolutely no experience with this.. it's my first ever flock!

They are closed in at night once they go inside to roost and the door opens at 6:30 AM. I keep the light out at night so they are not moving around and eating drinking. I wonder if this is too early for them to be away from food and water this long? I have a younger group that is in the brooder still and will be moving them into the coop in a few weeks. The light will probably go back on longer at that time so I can increase their light now if needed.

I boiled a few eggs yesterday to add protein but not sure if this will solve the problem...he seems to enjoy the sport of it. Any advice with this is most welcome. It's not my intention to keep a rooster (I ordered females only) and if the consensus is to remove him now rather than later I will do so! Thank you all...I am learning so much from reading the forums here!

In my opinion you have provided your birds with a diet that is deficient in protein, especially the more complex animal proteins that chickens need. All chickens will eat their flock mates feathers (called feather picking) to try and overcome protein deficiency. Actively laying hens are the worst offenders but growing cockerels and pullets will feather pick with the worst of them. Try a learning moment, give all your birds 1/2 can of good caned dog food every other day to learn if this behavior changes. After 14 days do what ever it is that you think that you need to do with this young man. However I am betting that his behavior changes.

 

[junebuggena]

Your run is a bit small for that many birds, the behavior might be caused by overcrowding and boredom. A bigger run or free range time might help.

 

[kkim]

In my opinion you have provided your birds with a diet that is deficient in protein, especially the more complex animal proteins that chickens need. All chickens will eat their flock mates feathers (called feather picking) to try and overcome protein deficiency. Actively laying hens are the worst offenders but growing cockerels and pullets will feather pick with the worst of them. Try a learning moment, give all your birds 1/2 can of good caned dog food every other day to learn if this behavior changes. After 14 days do what ever it is that you think that you need to do with this young man. However I am betting that his behavior changes.

1/2 can for the whole flock correct? Is there a better food I should be using? The local Feeders Supply store only carries the Purina and I believe an organic but not sure about those. I am very open to changing feed. I have a Tractor Supply within a reasonable driving distance if they carry a better quality food?

I tossed a bit of dried cat food in the run yesterday and they pretty much ignored it. They loved the cooked eggs though.

 

[kkim]

Your run is a bit small for that many birds, the behavior might be caused by overcrowding and boredom. A bigger run or free range time might help.

Thank you! We have plans for a larger area for a safe daypen. They are only 9 weeks old and I'm afraid to free range them just yet. My plan was to wait until they had a bit more size since we do have cats and lots of hawks in the area. Right now they seem like fair game to both and I don't have the courage to try it yet!