Cockerel feather pulling

[PNW_Peepers]

I have a 12 week old cockerel that has been pulling feathers and eating them. He goes for my pullets saddle area in particular. He’s in my garage isolated for now. I’m new to chicken keeping and have never seen any aggression issues before. Any suggestions?

 

[featheredplanets]

I would guess he’s immature, bored, stressed or lacking protein. How do you house them and what feed are they on?

 

[PNW_Peepers]

He’s housed with 17 pullets in a 10x8 coop and a 8x30 run. I have them on both fermented and dry feed. It’s organic starter. I also sprinkle black oil sunflower seeds and dried black soldier fly larva daily.

 

[chonsey]

I had a farmer say they will get aggressive if they are lacking salt, make sure it's getting all the minerals it needs. Try putting honey in it's water. What breed is it? I had a mean leghorn, had to keep it locked up. Used it for barn security, would let it loose in the barn when I'd go to work. It would chase any animal or person trying to enter the barn. Called him Foghorn - It would kill mice, snakes, go after raccoons, opossums, etc. Ended up moving & had to get rid of all my chickens for a couple of years. After getting a couple of brahmas & an australorp, I decided I like the breeds with docile temperaments. My brahmas will walk up to us and let us bend over and pick them up. I hatched out some Easter Eggers for Easter - they are feisty, run fast - I have to catch them and put them in the coop. They would escape out of the brooder every chance they got-had to move them to the coop with a heat light. Considering rehoming some of them. Keep a couple for the big barn. These hatchlings seem to like open space-right out of the egg. So I already know they aren't staying in the coop much longer - only til they finish feathering.

 

[PNW_Peepers]

He’s a Black Ameraucana and is extremely friendly to me. I’d hate to cull him, aside from his feather picking I haven’t had any issues

 

[chickens really]

What's the protein percentage of the feed?

 

[PNW_Peepers]

20.50% protein

 

[chickens really]

20.50% protein

What kind of feed is it?

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

he sounds like a very healthy bird... strange. is there anything in there for him to play with? he sounds really bored.

 

[PNW_Peepers]

What kind of feed is it?

It’s scratch and peck brand (local brand near me) starter feed.