Duck being picked on—pulling feathers

[casportpony]

"Severe feather pecking has been reported in birds that were fed a too low mineral level in the diet, a too low protein level or a too low amino acid level (methionine, arginine).
There appears to be somewhat more more feather pecking with diets containing only vegetable proteins compared to those fed some protein of animal origin.
Feather pecking is also more associated with diets that were restricted, coarsely ground or fed as pellets."
Dr Marinus van Krimpen of Wageningen University

 

[chickens really]

"Severe feather pecking has been reported in birds that were fed a too low mineral level in the diet, a too low protein level or a too low amino acid level (methionine, arginine).
There appears to be somewhat more more feather pecking with diets containing only vegetable proteins compared to those fed some protein of animal origin.
Feather pecking is also more associated with diets that were restricted, coarsely ground or fed as pellets."
Dr Marinus van Krimpen of Wageningen University

And your point is...Balance in nutrition is key...
I agree..

 

[casportpony]

Hmm..Not for the same reasons amongst the two different species. Ducks nutrition is different from a Chicken.
I have never run into issues with anything feeding my Birds as separate species. My Ducks are fantastic even here in - 30C without being out of Runs.

Of course they have different requirements, I'm not saying they don't, I am saying that the cause of feather picking is the same for all species of birds.

 

[chickens really]

Of course they have different requirements, I'm not saying they don't, I am saying that the cause of feather picking is the same for all species of birds.

It's not always protein...

 

[casportpony]

Balance in nutrition is key...

Did you see the bit about it being more common with birds fed a diet with vegetable protein instead of animal protein? Guess what? Purina Flock Raiser contains no animal protein.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yes balanced nutrition is very important. And all poultry can be deficient in protein and other necessary nutrients when over winter they have to rely solely on feed. Which can be lacking since it's milled and shipped and stored.

 

[Pyxis]

There appears to be somewhat more more feather pecking with diets containing only vegetable proteins compared to those fed some protein of animal origin.

It's interesting, I was just reading up about that, and it seems that this is the case because in addition to low protein being a problem, a lack of methionine can be a problem that causes feather eating, as your source also says. And foods rich in methionine are animal products - beef, lamb, cheese, fish, etc. So it makes sense that there would be more feather eating when a feed only contains vegetable proteins, because it is probably lacking in methionine.

If methionine is the problem, there should be plenty in the cat food that is being offered to them now

 

[chickens really]

Sorry OP...Just stick to what your planning..

 

[casportpony]

.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well you got a lot of information sent your way @Duckworth. I hope it helps. Let us know please.