Do we have a feather plucker among us???

[Hannahnic14]

So I noticed my dark brahma roo was losing his neck feathers a few weeks ago. I checked him over and no mites or lice. I gave it a few weeks to see if he was going through a small molt. Well it's getting worse.

I thought he might be plucking his own feathers but he can't reach the spots behind his ears.

He's 8 months old. They get a mixture of all flock and layer pellets. We have several roos in our flock of 45.

No one else has this issue.

I checked again and no mites or lice. I checked hum VERY thoroughly as we went through a mite problem in the summer.

Hopefully I included all the info you need.
Any thoughts??? Do we have a feather plucker in our flock??

 

[The-White-Elephant]

@MysteryChicken @azygous @Wyorp Rock

 

[MysteryChicken]

So I noticed my dark brahma roo was losing his neck feathers a few weeks ago. I checked him over and no mites or lice. I gave it a few weeks to see if he was going through a small molt. Well it's getting worse.

I thought he might be plucking his own feathers but he can't reach the spots behind his ears.

He's 8 months old. They get a mixture of all flock and layer pellets. We have several roos in our flock of 45.

No one else has this issue.

I checked again and no mites or lice. I checked hum VERY thoroughly as we went through a mite problem in the summer.

Hopefully I included all the info you need.
Any thoughts??? Do we have a feather plucker in our flock??

I have this same issue in one of my coops.

There's usually a hen, that will pluck pin feathers of molting Rooster's. It's a behavior that needs to be fixed.

 

[Hannahnic14]

I have this same issue in one of my coops.

There's usually a hen, that will pluck pin feathers of molting Rooster's. It's a behavior that needs to be fixed.

Ok, we have added several new members recently. How to identify the culprit? Should I set up a camera in the coop?

 

[MysteryChicken]

Ok, we have added several new members recently. How to identify the culprit? Should I set up a camera in the coop?

You could either set up a camera, or you can watch the flock while you're outside.

 

[Hannahnic14]

You could either set up a camera, or you can watch the flock while you're outside.

I usually sit and watch them for a bit when I check on them every morning. I'll try to go out there more often and see if I can catch her! How do you stop feather plucking? Does the culprit need to just be separated for awhile, or is it a call for culling?

 

[MysteryChicken]

I usually sit and watch them for a bit when I check on them every morning. I'll try to go out there more often and see if I can catch her! How do you stop feather plucking? Does the culprit need to just be separated for awhile, or is it a call for culling?

You can get some Pinless Peepers to help discourage the plucking hen, or pullet who's doing this.

 

[Hannahnic14]

You can get some Pinless Peepers to help discourage the plucking hen, or pullet who's doing this.

Any other options? I'm not fond of those

 

[The-White-Elephant]

Any other options? I'm not fond of those

Maybe put something really sour, so the chicken won’t peck at it? Or just cover up the area with some gauze or something? I’m not too sure what you can do

 

[Hannahnic14]

Maybe put something really sour, so the chicken won’t peck at it? Or just cover up the area with some gauze or something? I’m not too sure what you can do

Ok, I'll try the peck no more stuff and go from there!