Bare Butts!

[Lover duck duck]

I have 10 chickens they are all a year and half old. Mostly all of them have bare butts. Some more than others. I checked for mites they have none, their coop is a 10’ x 12’ coop so they have lots and lots of perches and plenty of space. I clean their coop every afternoon. There are lots of feathers every afternoon but I don’t know if it’s molting or feather pecking. Do they actually pull full feathers out from each other if that’s what it is? They get fed free choice Kalmbach All Natural Henhouse Reserve 17% feed. 3 scoops of mealworms per day 1 in (morning), 1 cup at (lunch), and 1 in afternoon. I don’t know what I am doing wrong. I am in Orlando so not really cold. Please give me some advise.

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[sourland]

Some bird/birds in the flock are feather pecking/plucking. Any birds in perfect feather are probably the culprits. Increasing the protein level in their diet MAY help.

 

[Lover duck duck]

Some bird/birds in the flock are feather pecking/plucking. Any birds in perfect feather are probably the culprits. Increasing the protein level in their diet MAY help.

How do I increase their protein? They get plenty of mealworms and they get veggies as treats from time to time.

 

[nuthatched]

Cut out the treats, get some chick starter or a feed with atleast 18% protein.
That's way too many worms, they're like chicken cheetos.

 

[Lover duck duck]

Cut out the treats, get some chick starter or a feed with atleast 18% protein.
That's way too many worms, they're like chicken cheetos.

So you don’t think their feed that has 17% protein is enough?

 

[nuthatched]

So you don’t think their feed that has 17% protein is enough?

It's 1% over the bare minimum, so unfortunately, no.
I feed 18%-20% depending on availability.

 

[Lover duck duck]

It's 1% over the bare minimum, so unfortunately, no.
I feed 18%-20% depending on availability.

Can you recommend one?

 

[nuthatched]

Can you recommend one?

I like nutrena flock raiser or country companion hi pro feeds, but it depends on your local availability

 

[Seaslug]

Are they ever stuck in the coop with the lights on and/or do you have roost bars where the girls can reach each other? Potentially could be feather pulling due to boredom. Good luck.

 

[Lover duck duck]

I like nutrena flock raiser or country companion hi pro feeds, but it depends on your local availability

Thank you so much. Tractor supply does sell the Flock raiser.