Any advice on chickens picking each other's butts

[LhickenChicken]

I have noticed that the hens lower in the pecking order have very bare butts. Like no feathers on their butts. What can I do about this? They are getting protein supplements and kitchen scraps for treats (the protein supplement isn't a treat--it's mixed into their food.) They eat mixed grain, a BIT of oats, barley, peas, and whole flax.

 

[Shadrach]

I have noticed that the hens lower in the pecking order have very bare butts. Like no feathers on their butts. What can I do about this? They are getting protein supplements and kitchen scraps for treats (the protein supplement isn't a treat--it's mixed into their food.) They eat mixed grain, a BIT of oats, barley, peas, and whole flax.

Space usually helps to sort such problems out. Space in the coop and the run.
What commercial feed if any are you feeding them. It reads like you may not be feeding any commercial feed in which case the quantities and provenance of what you do feed them becomes very important.

 

[LhickenChicken]

Space usually helps to sort such problems out. Space in the coop and the run.
What commercial feed if any are you feeding them. It reads like you may not be feeding any commercial feed in which case the quantities and provenance of what you do feed them becomes very important.

I am feeding them commercial (?) protein supplement, but their regular feed is a mix of grain (not commercial). I have ground limestone for calcium.
As for the run, they don't go outside unless it is in the single digits for -degrees celsius (example -1,-2,-3, etc.) or the plus digits (example 1, 2, 3,4, etc.). So they are literally cooped up in their coop. But my coop has enough space for 60 chickens.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

I am feeding them commercial (?) protein supplement, but their regular feed is a mix of grain (not commercial). I have ground limestone for calcium.
As for the run, they don't go outside unless it is in the single digits for -degrees celsius (example -1,-2,-3, etc.) or the plus digits (example 1, 2, 3,4, etc.). So they are literally cooped up in their coop. But my coop has enough space for 60 chickens.

I have no reliable input about the feed, but it's possible they are crowded or bored. May we please check your numbers? How big is your coop, and how many chickens do you have?

You can add some boredom busters like shiny or brightly colored toys to peck at, plenty of obstructions to perch on or run behind, dust baths, treats like a cabbage in a hanging net bag, a pile of straw or hay to scratch through, stuff like that.

Have you checked them for mites or lice? They could be over-grooming themselves due to skin irritation.

If there's any redness, you can use Blu-Kote or something similar to coat the area. The blue color discourages other birds from pecking at it.

 

[Mrs. K]

They may need more sunshine.

You might try pin-less peepers.

I believe in a lot of clutter, and roost options. Places where birds can get away from each other. Out of sight, out of mind.

The check for parasites is a good point.

Mrs K

 

[aart]

I am feeding them commercial (?) protein supplement

Is this just protein, or does it also contain the other vitamins, minerals, amino acids that are important to good poultry health?
What are the nutrient level in the grain mix, is it a combo you made or bought?

....and as amusing as your location is it would help to know your general geographic location.

@U_Stormcrow is good with feed mixes.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Unfortunately, feather pikting is a symptom with a lot of potential causes. All of the advice above is good, because it all touches on one or more of the common causes.

Feed deficiencies, particularly certain key aminos are one common cause.

Utter boredom is another - particularly where space is at a premium. Commercial facilities are often "kept" birds 24/7, and it used to be relatively common behaviour, even when hey had (by commercial standards) significant floor space. The coop/run "thumb rules" are just that, coop and run working as a system - when the run is unavailable for extended period, the coop sq/ft rule often seems to understate the need.

Finally, illness and injury can cause the pack to pick on the ill/ijured chickens, potentially sacrificing the weaker bird to predation to rpotect the rest of the pack - or even removing the ill bird from the flock entirely.

But yes, if you put up your feed mix, I'll offer a broad opinion (where I can) of its strengths and deficiencies. I'll want to know your general location (climate matters), your breeds, and ages. If you want to generalize "meaties" or "adult commercial layers", that good enough. There isn't a serama mix, a brahma mix, a cochin mix, or an australorp mix - but there are differing feed recommends for different ages and broad purpose.

 

[LhickenChicken]

I am Somewhere In The Middle Of Nowhere. The coop is 100 square feet.

 

[aart]

I am Somewhere In The Middle Of Nowhere.

SMH. Fine.....

Is this just protein, or does it also contain the other vitamins, minerals, amino acids that are important to good poultry health?
What are the nutrient level in the grain mix, is it a combo you made or bought?

...what about this^^^ stuff?

 

[LhickenChicken]

Is this just protein, or does it also contain the other vitamins, minerals, amino acids that are important to good poultry health?
What are the nutrient level in the grain mix, is it a combo you made or bought?

....and as amusing as your location is it would help to know your general geographic location.

@U_Stormcrow is good with feed mixes.

It is just protein as far as I know. I don't know if it has other minerals, I just got it for protein. I bought the grain mix from a local farmer, as I don't grow my own grains yet. Fine I'm somewhere in Canada.