Chicken plucking feathers out of other chickens??

[AlaskaEE]

One of my 20-week-old Marans/EE girls has started sneaking up to the other Marans/EE girls and plucking feathers from their backs. I read that this can be boredom- or stress-related. She started this yesterday, the same day we got our flock's first egg. All 4 of my M/EE girls are ready to lay any time, as is one of my Red Sexlink girls, so there's a lot of changes going on in my coop.

I've put her in to a small wire kennel inside the coop to keep the other girls safe; is there anything else I can do to help her stop?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

What are you feeding? Hopefully they are still on a higher protein feed like a grower. Switching to a layer will lower the protein and can cause deficiencies as they are still growing and starting to lay. Put out a separate bowl of oyster shells for the calcium needs.

How big is your set up? How many birds? Crowded and bored birds will sometimes feather pick, but generally if they are also eating them than it points more to a deficiency.

 

[AlaskaEE]

Yes, I have had them on Layer feed, so protein deficiency sounds likely. I've been giving oyster shells free-choice and give them mealworms as treats daily. They free-range for about an hour a day. I have 6 birds with a ~40sq.ft. coop with an additional ~50sq.ft. run attached. Any other information that might be pertinent?

Thank you for your help!

 

[pennyJo1960]

Yes, I have had them on Layer feed, so protein deficiency sounds likely. I've been giving oyster shells free-choice and give them mealworms as treats daily. They free-range for about an hour a day. I have 6 birds with a ~40sq.ft. coop with an additional ~50sq.ft. run attached. Any other information that might be pertinent?

Thank you for your help!

meal worms should only be given as a treat not a food please, the number of birds to the coop are more than enough you did well removing the offender keep her out a day or so take them back to grower leaving the oyster out put her back crate and all after like 3 days but monitor and meal worms once a week

 

[AlaskaEE]

meal worms should only be given as a treat not a food please, the number of birds to the coop are more than enough you did well removing the offender keep her out a day or so take them back to grower leaving the oyster out put her back crate and all after like 3 days but monitor and meal worms once a week

Thank you for the information. I'll cut back on mealworms and I'm on my way to the store to get Grower feed.

 

[azygous]

You need to curb this behavior quick before it becomes a habit programed deeply into the circuitry of her brain. I've found that feather picking, especially if there's no evidence of the picker eating the feathers, is a compulsive behavior, not nutritionally based.

She's probably large enough for pinless peepers to fit her. I find these have a high rate of success in curbing this behavior if used early enough. I have an EE right now wearing them because she was doing what yours is doing, and not eating the feathers.

I also find that introducing a flock block into the run cures any boredom problems. The entire flock will be so engrossed in it, no one will have time for mischief.

 

[dunnmom]

I had a nasty feather-pecker. She plucked her sisters until they bled. Jailing didn't work for her, and she had no nutritional issues, it was a behavioral problem. I had a newborn at the time, so it was either cull or rehome. I was lucky enough to find someone willing to rehabilitate her. I think the change of scenery, more attention, and less competition for space and food was what helped her most.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Yes, I have had them on Layer feed, so protein deficiency sounds likely. I've been giving oyster shells free-choice and give them mealworms as treats daily. They free-range for about an hour a day. I have 6 birds with a ~40sq.ft. coop with an additional ~50sq.ft. run attached. Any other information that might be pertinent?

Thank you for your help!

I personally don't feed a layer, I saw too many problems feeding it such as feather picking, and egg eating. I feed either a non medicated grower or an All Flock.

I too might try isolating her in a pen within the coop if possible for a few weeks to see if you can break the habit while hopefully getting more protein in her. I personally like scrambled eggs and cottage cheese for protein boosts.

I feed my growing chicks scrambled eggs daily for a few months and they grow like weeds.

Hopefully you caught it soon enough that it's not a habit, good luck.

 

[AlaskaEE]

Thank you, everyone! I checked the crude protein level of my feed and it's 17%, while the grower feed at my local supply store was at 15%. What is ideal for this phase of their development? I did buy a flock block and I can definitely supplement with scrambled eggs - I eat them every day myself!

I really appreciate the feedback and suggestions. I don't want to have to cull/rehome her!

 

[pennyJo1960]

Thank you, everyone! I checked the crude protein level of my feed and it's 17%, while the grower feed at my local supply store was at 15%. What is ideal for this phase of their development? I did buy a flock block and I can definitely supplement with scrambled eggs - I eat them every day myself!
I really appreciate the feedback and suggestions. I don't want to have to cull/rehome her!

talk to the folks at your feed store there should be a higher % layer feed available for them