Chickens plucking other chickens

[Shellz419]

Hi,
I have four rescued battery hens. They have all be moulting and regrowing feathers. I'm in New Zealand so it's late Autumn here.
One of the rescues has been plucking one of the others neck and chest area where new growth is coming through.

My question is how can I prevent this from happening?

I thought of putting a sock over the plucked ones neck but it may end up over its head when it eats and drinks.
Is there anything distasteful but not harmful I could put on the area being plucked?
Any other suggestions?

 

[Folly's place]

If their diet is 15% to 16 protein, change to 18% to 20% protein instead. Also, do they all have a lot of space, and things to do? Is this happening at night while they are roosting, or all day?
Any lice or mites?
Some birds just want to do this, and if you can get the 'pinless peepers' for her, that will fix it.
Mary

 

[pozees2]

I agree with @Folly's place WRT increasing protein in diet, especially while they are growing new feathers. Feathers are made of protein. Feeding cooked eggs, meal worms, even some cat food, are ways to increase protein if you don't want to switch feed.

 

[Shellz419]

Thanks.
It's just the one chicken that seems to be doing it.
I may try offering some cat food.
As we are in lock down we are pretty much getting whatever feed we can right now.
They are currently getting prolay pellets and a mix of seeds, corn and peas.
They have plenty of room.
It may be a behavior picked up from being caged as a battery hen.

 

[Shellz419]

If their diet is 15% to 16 protein, change to 18% to 20% protein instead. Also, do they all have a lot of space, and things to do? Is this happening at night while they are roosting, or all day?
Any lice or mites?
Some birds just want to do this, and if you can get the 'pinless peepers' for her, that will fix it.
Mary

Thanks.
It's just the one chicken that seems to be doing it.
I may try offering some cat food.
As we are in lock down we are pretty much getting whatever feed we can right now.
They are currently getting prolay pellets and a mix of seeds, corn and peas.
They have plenty of room.
It may be a behavior picked up from being caged as a battery hen.

They were treated for worms and mite before we got them and I regularly treat my other hens.

 

[Shellz419]

I've opted to try a taste deterrent.
I'm using a tea tree spray which seems to be working.
I'd rather retrain them than resort to something like pinless peepers. These girls have been through enough.
It doesn't seem to be harming any of them but there is regrowth of the feathers so I'd say it's successful at this stage.

 

[Possum chicken farm]

I've opted to try a taste deterrent.
I'm using a tea tree spray which seems to be working.
I'd rather retrain them than resort to something like pinless peepers. These girls have been through enough.
It doesn't seem to be harming any of them but there is regrowth of the feathers so I'd say it's successful at this stage.

I have a hen who's feathers have been picked and plucked by two of my other hens. What is in the tea tree spray? Besides tea tree oil, obviously. Is it harmful for the hen it is applied to? Any info you can provide would be helpful. I don't know if my pecked hen has had quills pulled out or just broken (I imagine some of both) so she may have to wait until fall to molt and get her feathers back, but they'll just peck them out again. I'm at my wits end.

 

[Shellz419]

The tea tree I'm using is Thursday plantation anticeptic spray. It just has tea tree and alovera in it.
There is mixed feeling on the subject but I read an article where they use tee tree for the treatment of mites in chickens.
It can be toxic to cats and dogs. So far I'm not seeing any I'll effects and I'm keeping a close eye on them. I've been using it everyday for a week now.
If I don't refresh it quick enough she ends up with a couple of pluck wounds.
I suspect she is doing some herself and one other.
I'm continuing to monitor but it does seem to be working without I'll effects at this stage.

 

[Possum chicken farm]

The tea tree I'm using is Thursday plantation anticeptic spray. It just has tea tree and alovera in it.
There is mixed feeling on the subject but I read an article where they use tee tree for the treatment of mites in chickens.
It can be toxic to cats and dogs. So far I'm not seeing any I'll effects and I'm keeping a close eye on them. I've been using it everyday for a week now.
If I don't refresh it quick enough she ends up with a couple of pluck wounds.
I suspect she is doing some herself and one other.
I'm continuing to monitor but it does seem to be working without I'll effects at this stage.

Thanks for the info. I'll check out that spray.