Conclusion about chickens pecking & eating their feathers

[7L Farm]

I now have come to the conclusion that it was lack of protein. I bought some manna pro Poultry Conditioner which is 22% protein & gave them fish, venision,& chicken. Thats what they have been eating along with veggies, some Boss, alittle yogurt & cottage cheese. Not all at once but spread out for the past week. The pecking has seemed to stop & their vent areas that were pecked to no end seems to be healing. I did remove the cockeral who started all this feather pecking. My question is when should I re-introduce him to the pullets. He has been in jail for almost a week. He's in the new coop which is around the corner from where the girls are. I haven't let them free range because I'm not sure what would happen if the girls walked by the coop he's in.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

I would probably put him back now. But before I did, I would trim his nails just to help cut down on feather damage. You were feeding him the increased protein also, right?

 

[patman75]

I added peepers to the chickens that I caught feather picking. The peepers plus extra protien has stopped the pecking in my flock.

 

[7L Farm]

Quote:
No, I have been feeding him 17% laying pellets & some boss.

 

[sourland]

Why wouldn't you put the cockerel who started the feather pecking on the same feeding regimen? If it was indeed a protein deficiency problem, nothing has been changed in his case. If protein deficiency was the problem, he will probably go right back to feather pecking.

 

[7L Farm]

Quote:
I still have him isolated. Yesterday, I put some blue kote on their vents & noticed this morning that 3 or 4 of the girls had purple beaks. So, I'm right back where I started. I just ordered the pinless peepers. Hopefully this will solve the problem. In the mean time I'll up the protein for the cockeral. I wasn't thinking thanks for your help.

 

[Judy]

It would have been a good opportunity to boost his nutrition. Plenty of roosters live on layer, as they are in with the flock, but it's not really that good for them. The calcium can damage organs, shortening their life, and they really need more protein than layer provides.

 

[Carrie Lynn]

What are pinless peepers?

 

[patman75]

Quote:
http://www.eggcartons.com/product-exec/product_id/754/nm/Pinless_Peepers_PINLESS_P

 

[CMV]

Quote:
http://www.eggcartons.com/product-exec/product_id/754/nm/Pinless_Peepers_PINLESS_P

A word about these folks at eggcartons.com- They are AWESOME!!! I ordered my pinless peepers 2 days before Christmas and they arrived the next day. I was able to put them on the worst picker in my flock on Christmas eve. I will be using these folks again for any of my poultry needs. Very nice to deal with, fair pricing, and quick delivery. Got to love that.