Dominant hen plucking feathers from another hen

[BallsEleven]

I’ve got one production red that seems to be the leader of her flock. She recently started pecking feathers from the bottom of another to the point that I came home today to find her bleeding.

Has anyone dealt with this? I have the bleeder separated for now.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Wow that's pretty severe.

What are you feeding them, feed and treats, if any? Protein % of the feed?

Any photos of your coop and run? How large are they, and how many birds in that space?

 

[aart]

Once this one heals up, I'd separate the pecker.

 

[SulkyBantam]

Wow that's pretty severe.

What are you feeding them, feed and treats, if any? Protein % of the feed?

Any photos of your coop and run? How large are they, and how many birds in that space?

Once this one heals up, I'd separate the pecker.

X2 on both counts.

 

[BallsEleven]

Wow that's pretty severe.

What are you feeding them, feed and treats, if any? Protein % of the feed?

Any photos of your coop and run? How large are they, and how many birds in that space?

I've got 9 in a 92 sqft run and coop. I can't remember the protein % off the top of my head but will check when I get back home. I have the bloody bird separated but wondering if I should have moved the aggressor now.

They get meal worms here and there but not daily. I was thinking of putting them on chick feed to increase protein anyway. Should I do that now?

 

[SulkyBantam]

I've got 9 in a 92 sqft run and coop. I can't remember the protein % off the top of my head but will check when I get back home. I have the bloody bird separated but wondering if I should have moved the aggressor now.

They get meal worms here and there but not daily. I was thinking of putting them on chick feed to increase protein anyway. Should I do that now?

no, not if they are layers... you could get protein supplements.

 

[aart]

I was thinking of putting them on chick feed to increase protein anyway. Should I do that now?

Yes, you can use starter or all flock or what ever has 18-20% protein.
Have Oyster Shell in a separate feeder for the active layers.
Sometimes you can find a higher protein layers feed.
Learn to read the nutrient tag.

no, not if they are layers... you could get protein supplements.

Yes, you can

 

[SulkyBantam]

Yes, you can use starter or all flock or what ever has 18-20% protein.
Have Oyster Shell in a separate feeder for the active layers.
Sometimes you can find a higher protein layers feed.
Learn to read the nutrient tag.


Yes, you can

IF you can supplement their calcium.

 

[BallsEleven]

IF you can supplement their calcium.

I've got the oyster shell on hand back when my leghorns stopped laying in the fall and was feeding everyone starter feed.

I'll try this out and report back. I'll monitor the aggressor to see if she starts with the other hens. If so I'll remove her and bring the other back in.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Definitely try upping the protein intake. Hopefully it will help.

If not, then you'll also need to consider some/all of the following: extend the run space, add more clutter to the run, pinless peepers, reduce size of flock.