chickiens eating other chyickens feathers

[sarabeth]

I have a chicken and alot of her feathers are gone. I think the other chickens are eating them cause the base of the feathers are still there. She has bald spots where there was feathers. I dont think its molting cause I have some going through that and u can tell a big difference in it. They are only picking on this one bird. Or I say this one bird cause I havent seen them picking on her or anybody else.

 

[Carolina Chicken Man]

According to a book I have, feathers are 85% protein, and chickens will sometimes pick feathers if they aren't getting enough protein.

You can boost their protein by giving them some catfood.

 

[Chicken Woman]

Could be that they are not getting enough protein. Feathers are mostly protien. Try upping there protien with some canned cat food, yogurt,cooked ground beef mixed in mash.

 

[moduckman]

This may be a silly thing to say, however, if the birds are not getting enough "good dirt" to scratch and eat, they will sometimes do that. If just happens that the bird getting pecked is "the weakest link" in the coop. Just a guess.

 

[Chicken Vigilante]

Yes, what are you feeding. For example Guinea fowl are notorious for eating feathers. They require a very high protein diet and can actually die from not getting enough protien.

We use starter for the regular chicks and game grower for the Guinea fowl. If we have both in the nursery, we mix them 50/50.
We always mix poultry grain with starter before the age of 10 weeks.

The guinea will still eat the feathers. You would be really suprised at how much a chicken eats and drinks in a day even with enough protien in the diet.

 

[Momma_Cluck]

If they are getting the proper feed, then if they are bored, over-crowded, cold or stressed they pick on whoever is "bottom of the totem pole" OR sometimes Hens will gang-up on younger Roo's... (According to our Vet & Extension office)
We recently had this problem-- Vet had us use blue-kote..then when it is dry-- spread Vapor-rub an the area-- keeps them from picking at the new feathers as they grow in.

We now have 5 hens that will NEVER grow tails (eaten to the bone) and a Roo that is the same... all just because of boredom and pecking order!!!

 

[sarabeth]

will it be ok if i take her out and put her in a cage till i get her better or will they start on a new one. or could she be doing this herself cause i have never seen them peck on her.

 

[Momma_Cluck]

it is often easier to find out who is doing the pecking and remove THEM so they do not choose a new victim once the original is gone!