Applying Pine Tar to Chicken?

[Alice EG]

My chickens have gotten into the habit of picking at each other out of what appears to be a mix of boredom, dominance, and an ungentlemanly rooster who has since been removed. So, after looking and looking, I finally got my hands on some pine tar. My question is... how do I apply it? Do I just slather it on the bare patches, or on all the feathers? Is it okay to put on the throat, where my EE has had her beard peck clean off? Also, is it okay to eat the eggs from them?

 

[Judy]

Put it on the bare patches and eat the eggs. If you really want to deal with the mess.

Have you considered overcrowding?

 

[Alice EG]

They did have an overcrowding issue last winter, but have since been given a much larger space, and broken them up into smaller, separate flocks. They don't seem to be pulling out full feathers any longer, it just looks like it's the new feathers coming in that they like to pick at.

 

[geebs]

feed BOSS

 

[Alice EG]

Yep, already do. I mix them into their regular feed.

 

[Judy]

I suppose it could be simply a behavior they have learned.

Good luck.