Broody Plucking Chicks

[Lacy Duckwing]

My broody hen has 11 seven, almost eight-week-old chicks and has been an excellent mother. Today, I caught her attempting to pluck several of her chicks, which is new behavior. Starting yesterday, one of the chicks who has been showing some surprisingly aggressive behavior towards the other chicks (which is also new, but is more of a forgotten genetic of her mother) began attempting the same aggression toward the broody. The broody ended up putting her in her place respectfully, and when it happened again today, the broody responded in the same way. This is all normal and healthy behavior for the broody to act that way, but I don't know if it's linked to the extra stress of this aggressive chick.

My concern is on protein. I've been having issues with plucking issues in my flock, including with this hen, and in the past year, it has slowed down. When these chicks hatched, I put them on Starter/Grower feed, which is 20% protein. Within the past couple of weeks, I began weaning them off this grain to Grower/Finisher feed, which is 15% protein. The weaning process went a lot faster with the grain being switched rather quickly due to mice getting into the chick feed and ruining most of the bag.

I think the sudden protein drop is the issue, but I'm not going to switch the grains back as the chicks are fine on this lower protein grain and I can't afford to buy an extra bag (and I'm not going to the feed store until my next grain bill). Should I provide the broody with the Layer Pellets which has 16.50% protein? I don't want to return her to the flock as she's still brooding and the plucking is the only issue. I'm considering putting a Pinless Peeper on her (she's had to wear them before), but I don't know if I should or not. Any thoughts?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Two things I suspect...actually three....well five now that I've written it. LOL.

1. Momma is starting to fledge the little darlings...it's time, more than time. My large breed broodies fledge about 4 to 5 weeks, my Silkies keep hold of the apron strings much, much, longer, but 8 weeks is more than enough time. You will see agressive behaviors enter at this point as a new pecking order establishes.

2. Feather picking does have a genetic component. Always breed away from that.

3. I do think your food change was a bit abrupt. 20% protein is too much unless you have meat birds (which you didn't indicate you did, and I would not expect a meat bird to go broody). Generally keep that a short time to avoid causing too fast of growth in bones. On the other hand 15% is a bit light in protein. I'd be happy at 16 to 18% if you have layers. Unfortunately the layer has too much calcium yet for the young chicks. I'd definitely put momma back onto that to discourage feather picking. You don't want her demonstrating that behavior to the chicks. Exposure to the behavior also is a component.

4. Make sure you have ample room in the flock and are not excessively using lighting. Too close of quarters and excessive lighting are also known to cause picking.

5. Use the pinless peeper if you need to discourage the behavior with momma. I'd say it's definitely time to remove her from the chicks so she doesn't pass that behavior to them.

My thoughts.

LofMc

 

[Perris]

There is another possibility. Grebes apparently eat feathers to aid digestion or regurgitation of undigested food.

 

[Mrs. K]

She is done brooding. Way past it, and I am suspecting that if you have them separate from your main flock, you probably have them in a smaller area, maybe not? A picture of your set up would help us help you. As chicks grow, they need more room. For 11 chicks at 8 weeks of age, I would want at least 80 square feet of run.

If you are having trouble with the expenses of your feed bill, start selling some birds. Reducing the flock is the best way to reduce the feed bill. And as we are going into winter, reducing the flock also gives a lot more space to the birds that remain, also a good thing.

Mrs K

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Two things I suspect...actually three....well five now that I've written it. LOL.

1. Momma is starting to fledge the little darlings...it's time, more than time. My large breed broodies fledge about 4 to 5 weeks, my Silkies keep hold of the apron strings much, much, longer, but 8 weeks is more than enough time. You will see agressive behaviors enter at this point as a new pecking order establishes.

2. Feather picking does have a genetic component. Always breed away from that.

3. I do think your food change was a bit abrupt. 20% protein is too much unless you have meat birds (which you didn't indicate you did, and I would not expect a meat bird to go broody). Generally keep that a short time to avoid causing too fast of growth in bones. On the other hand 15% is a bit light in protein. I'd be happy at 16 to 18% if you have layers. Unfortunately the layer has too much calcium yet for the young chicks. I'd definitely put momma back onto that to discourage feather picking. You don't want her demonstrating that behavior to the chicks. Exposure to the behavior also is a component.

4. Make sure you have ample room in the flock and are not excessively using lighting. Too close of quarters and excessive lighting are also known to cause picking.

5. Use the pinless peeper if you need to discourage the behavior with momma. I'd say it's definitely time to remove her from the chicks so she doesn't pass that behavior to them.

My thoughts.

LofMc

Thank you for all of this and for responding. This is very helpful.

The broody is still making the broody cluck (and is brooding them at night), though through what you are saying, I am beginning to lean toward separating her. I put a Pinless Peeper on her today, which, wheither she stays with the chicks or returns to her flock she'll be wearing it to ensure she's not teaching anyone anything.
The protein percentages is what the feed store offers. I just checked their other grains (including the grain I used to raise chicks on - Gamebird), and none of them have the right percentages except for the Layer.

I recently charged their living area around due to not enough space or lighting. Their space is a coop consisting of two rooms put together, which in total measurement is less than 4x8 ft (which was obviously temporary), and was dark inside due to the window blocked off by storage (the window isn't their ventilation).
I attached a large run to that coop instead of moving them to the coop that I originally planned and I think it's plenty of space. Unfortunately I don't know the exact measurements, but it's pretty big for chicks this size. From being in that dark coop to having daylight all day isn't too much, is it? They've been out in this run for a couple of weeks now and this issue appears more related to the grain more than anything.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

There is another possibility. Grebes apparently eat feathers to aid digestion or regurgitation of undigested food.

If this is a possibility, what would be causing digestion problems? So far, I haven't seen anything that appears to be bothering them in that area.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

She is done brooding. Way past it, and I am suspecting that if you have them separate from your main flock, you probably have them in a smaller area, maybe not? A picture of your set up would help us help you. As chicks grow, they need more room. For 11 chicks at 8 weeks of age, I would want at least 80 square feet of run.

If you are having trouble with the expenses of your feed bill, start selling some birds. Reducing the flock is the best way to reduce the feed bill. And as we are going into winter, reducing the flock also gives a lot more space to the birds that remain, also a good thing.

Mrs K

Here is my setup:

It's on the backside of the hens' coop in what used to be a goat stall and later a room and floor added for bantams. The open door is where they sleep at night (with the door closed). I have a couple of logs and an old door from another coop to give them places to perch and hide (basically for their entertainment more than anything). The sun only fully shines on their run for an hour or less, though it does shine in small spots throughout the day. I'm not sure of the measurements of this run. The adults' run is on the front side of the coop.

These chicks are meant to be replacing some older layers. Once they're old enough (and I'm positive on the genders of everybody), I'll be rehoming extra cockerels and the hens I'm replacing (I'm hoping to rehome them together because the hens will help home the cockerels). The grain bill is only a problem due to growing and temporary extra birds. (The trip to the feed store is always a problem because of the drive itself, so I only go there once a month.)

 

[Perris]

If this is a possibility, what would be causing digestion problems? So far, I haven't seen anything that appears to be bothering them in that area.

I have no idea I'm sorry. I can get the source for it if you want to pursue it...?

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

I have no idea I'm sorry. I can get the source for it if you want to pursue it...?

No, that's fine. I'm thinking this is related to the protein levels in the grain change more than digestion. Thank you anyway.

 

[The Birb King]

Its normal she is weaning them. If they are 8 weeks old then she has actually cared for them for a long time, since most hens wean their chicks at around 6 weeks.