Booty Peckers

[Jason1004]

My red sex links lately have been chasing around all my other breeds and pulling out and eating the fluff feathers on their rears. They do not do it to eachother only every other chicken. They sneak up from behind rip out a couple and run. The reds fight over whos gonna eat them, but they do eventual get eaten. Im a little lost in what i should do to change this behavior. All day long a different chicken is jumpimg in the air after getting pecked in the booty. Any suggestions?

 

[Jason1004]

 

[Jason1004]

I have 4 red sex links
7 buff orpingtons
6 silver laced wyandottes
7 Easter Eggers
1 Barred Rock
And 1 Black Austrlorp.
So you'd think there out numbered?

 

[Texicano]

@Jason1004 I feel your frustration Jason. My pullets were leaving all my stags without any tail feathers. I separated them for now. In the past what's worked with booty peckers is keeping them busy pecking at something else; a big pile freshly cut grass with crushed oyster shell mixed in has worked for me but you have to be consistent enough to where they forget the tail feathers.

 

[jcooper3]

They might do it because they enjoy the taste of freshly plucked down. On the other hand, they might do it to increase the protein in their diet. I suggest adding a source of protein In a snack that you give them every day, or you could change their crumble or dry food to one that has a higher protein percentage.

 

[Jason1004]

Thank you guys I will try both ideas.

 

[Jason1004]

Totally think its the protein factor. Gave just those four a can of salmon, and they left the rest alone for a while. Think I need to add a supplement to their diet. Something higher in protein.

 

[chickens really]

A known fact is Red birds sometimes do not do well with other coloured birds....I learnt the hard way and never bought red birds again.....White birds can also act the same way with birds of another colour...

Hope this helped.?

 

[chickens really]

A known fact is Red birds sometimes do not do well with other coloured birds....I learnt the hard way and never bought red birds again.....White birds can also act the same way with birds of another colour...

Hope this helped.?

Also might need to bring up the protein level?? I got rid of my reds....To much drama in my coop....

 

[AmandaMBG]

Hmm my Anconas were doing this. There was one in particular that was the worst. She was put in time out for 2 weeks by herself then reintroduced and they all stopped. Sometimes it's just a bad habit that starts from eating feathers off the ground and escalates to plucking. I too think it is protein related to start.