Best ways to apply Blue kote for feather eating?

[MamaC]

Can anyone let me know how to apply the spray properly? I have five hens and a rooster with bare bottoms from feather eating. I have observed hens on the roost pick at each others backs. I have also witnessed hens plucking downy feathers off their rumps. They are actively searching the nesting box and coop for them.......actively hurting and pecking each other. Now what? I am switching them to feather fixer (higher protein) and adding a new flock block for entertainment. Its not mites or lice. The coop and birds were treated with sevin right before Christmas. Never had this happen before. HELP!

 

[MamaC]

I live in Wisconsin. The birds have a large insulated coop 10 x 6 x 7. Everyday they have access to a large run as well. Its 10 x10 x 10. There is a shelter in the run as well as two exterior nesting boxes. They have free choice grit and calcium and receive table scraps and bread everyday as well as scratch.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Do you have photos of the bare bottoms?
Are they drawing blood when they pick/pluck one another?
Are they going outside at all?

A higher protein feed like feather fixer will help if they are eating them and need protein.
Boredom can be part of the problem as well. The flock block can help, also you can hang a cabbage, some kale, apples, etc. in the coop or run for them to pick at.
I would recommend that the treats don't exceed 10-15% of diet since you are trying to increase protein.
As far as applying bluekote, you can either spray it on the red/exposed areas or use something like a qtip/swab and dip it in the bluekote to cover the exposed areas. Bluekote probably won't keep them from plucking and eating feathers, but if there are raw areas it's antiseptic properties will help cover and heal.
Some people use a product call "pick no more" to apply to feathers, it's supposed to taste bad and discourage the bad behavior.