Bleeding tail feathers

[Kassaundra]

This is my first chicken injury I have a couple of quick questions. They are just at 12 wks old. I have one in the group that is pulling feathers (as soon as I can identify her I'll deal w/ that) I think she is the one that has done this. One of the girl's tail feathers has been thining out, today I noticed the quill part of the feathers are still there, but the feathery part are gone, and she has a few drops of blood on the ends of the missing feathers. The skin looks in tact, I'm going to get a better look after she is a bit more relaxed. I have taken her out of the coop. I was thinking I would clean up any visible blood, should I then spray w/ blue kote and put her back out w/ the group? If this is happening b/c she is the lowest on the totem pole I don't want to make it worse for her. Should I just leave her isolated for a few days to make sure the bleeding doesn't start again? If I leave her isolated should I not spray w/ blue kote? Should I be doing something differant? Thanks.

 

[kelliepulido]

This season for me has brought all kinds of poultry challenges.From predators,chicks dying adults sick,picking fighting feather pulling you name it I have had.I can say I have learned alot.My biggest problem group of chicks I hatched out 30=40 bantams various breeds and then the problems have been many.One problem that has plagued the group that are remaining is the feather picking.I would blue kote,put her back and use red lightlI feel mine has to do with the brighter lights then the huddling together to keep warm.N;ow mine are finally starting to feather out but still have some that have bald spts.M

 

[Bugock]

Hi , we're new here and joined this forum to seek answers to the question of the feather pulling problem. We have 3 rhode island reds and 3 barred rocks, all hens, they are 8 mo old and have been laying for about 2 mo now. we live in Truckee Ca. and it has been cold here the last few weeks so the birds have been couped up lately. they have been pecking each others feathers out on the back and tail area. the problem is getting worse now, and one hen seems to be pecked worse than the others.

When i was a kid we had chickens , and we had that problem. My dad clipped their beaks to mitigate the damage they do from the pecking.
any one have any ideas? I've not heard of blue kote. what is it and what does it do? thanks for the help, Tim& Kelly

 

[kelliepulido]

I would never clip their beaks.Blue kote is gent.violet helps heal but also will conceal the red area that attracts the birds that are picking.Try a flock block sometimes I think they start this from boredom also.And make sure they have enough space per bird not over crowding etc.

 

[J.Pryce]

My grandpa uses roof tar on the bare area, & it works great. No more pecking & the new feathers come in

 

[Kassaundra]

At the feed store they have several different kinds of spray on antibiotics, analgesics etc.... in different colors, they are meant for horses I think but most of them you can use on your chickens if you aren't eating them (not sure about the eggs) The blue I was thinking would camofauge the red blood. She only had two small spots of blood and no broken skin so I cleaned it up and put blue food coloring on he two spots. I've checked on her a few times and she seems fine, no additional blood that I could find. But the one hen is still at it she is about to be isolated.

I don't have a pervasive feather picking problem just the one chicken, but some things I've read on here have stated it could be b/c to small of coop/run, to little protien in the diet, bordom. Hope you find the answer.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
I agree. Isolate the one doing the pecking if you can identify her, for about a week.


There's got to be a lot of pecking going on with this cold weather and chickens wanting to stay indoors. Reason enough not to close them in -- let them decide. Too little space and boredom are the usual causes. Low protein can be also, but if they're getting regular feed and not a lot of scratch, this isn't likely to be the cause.

 

[e72071]

I have a similar problem. My flock is about 10 weeks old and all grew up together. As soon as they moved outside the pecking started on just 1 bird. We isolated her for a couple days and put the blue-kote on her. After a couple days we let her back with the flock and within hours it started again. She was all bloody on the back end. I think it's most of the birds doing it not just 1. How do I get it to stop? I don't want her hurt or sick but I think she's been so pecked at now she may not have tail feathers.

 

[Kassaundra]

I have a similar problem. My flock is about 10 weeks old and all grew up together. As soon as they moved outside the pecking started on just 1 bird. We isolated her for a couple days and put the blue-kote on her. After a couple days we let her back with the flock and within hours it started again. She was all bloody on the back end. I think it's most of the birds doing it not just 1. How do I get it to stop? I don't want her hurt or sick but I think she's been so pecked at now she may not have tail feathers.

When you took her out did the rest chose another "patsy' and start in pecking on a new one or just live happily together?

 

[e72071]

When you took her out did the rest chose another "patsy' and start in pecking on a new one or just live happily together?

They all were fine together. I haven't seen them peck at anyone else.