Eating rooster feathers

[Adrienne-m]

I finally figured out who is pecking the frizzle roosters feathers. I’m getting concerned as some are down to just the quill (?) and she’s starting to pull them from other spots. I’ve caught her pecking other hens too. They have plenty of logs to play on/peck at, 2 swings, several roosts, a ladder and daily treats. Not sure why she is so bloated or what to do. I do have a heat panel the roo can warm up with. Any advice?

 

[Smileybans]

This may be a moot point but I had read that feather pecking is redirected foraging behavior as long as it isn’t aggressive. I guess pellets can make this behavior worse because they get fuller faster and don’t get to scratch around as much. From the pictures on your other post it looks like they have a large area to forage in though. Is she eating the feathers or just pulling them out? Some say that eating the feathers is a lack of protein. What’s their diet like?

 

[Adrienne-m]

This may be a moot point but I had read that feather pecking is redirected foraging behavior as long as it isn’t aggressive. I guess pellets can make this behavior worse because they get fuller faster and don’t get to scratch around as much. From the pictures on your other post it looks like they have a large area to forage in though. Is she eating the feathers or just pulling them out? Some say that eating the feathers is a lack of protein. What’s their diet like?

They get egg layer pellets then scratch grains and other veggies and such. Sometimes they get scrambled eggs

 

[Adrienne-m]

Between outside and inside they have around 41 sq fit per bird

 

[MysteryChicken]

This may be a moot point but I had read that feather pecking is redirected foraging behavior as long as it isn’t aggressive. I guess pellets can make this behavior worse because they get fuller faster and don’t get to scratch around as much. From the pictures on your other post it looks like they have a large area to forage in though. Is she eating the feathers or just pulling them out? Some say that eating the feathers is a lack of protein. What’s their diet like?

My birds eat pellets, I don't have that problem.

Usually this happens out of boredom, or a lack of protein if molting.

 

[Adrienne-m]

My birds eat pellets, I don't have that problem.

Usually this happens out of boredom, or a lack of protein if molting.

How to entertain them? They even have bells and stuff on a swing and a xylophone to peck at. I can’t see how they are bored. In the spring I will plant a garden in the run for them too.

 

[MysteryChicken]

How to entertain them? They even have bells and stuff on a swing and a xylophone to peck at. I can’t see how they are bored. In the spring I will plant a garden in the run for them too.

Have any treat balls you can fill with meal worms, seeds, or feed? My birds can't resist them.

 

[Adrienne-m]

No but I will get some. I do have a small coop that we will use for illness or babies or isolation. I suppose I could put her in time out

 

[Coops Dad]

Following for a solution.

I have 16 hens and two roosters in our main run, and one of the Delaware hens relentlessly plucks both roosters' tail feathers. She doesn't eat them; just plucks and drops. I haven't been able to break her of it and it really makes the roosters edgey so she might just end up being sent to Camp Crockpot.

 

[Smileybans]

My birds eat pellets, I don't have that problem.

Usually this happens out of boredom, or a lack of protein if molting.

It was just something I had read. Something to think about. That birds have the urge to scratch at the ground and forage whether full or not. Since pellets fill them faster it can lead to non agressive feather pecking.
I’ve never had this problem with any of my hens, thus far. But I do have two roosters and started out with an EE roo who likes to push the hens around. I know one of my roosters would do the plucking at the ends of the feathers. Just to damage them not pull them out. So I looked up why he would be doing it. That showed up as a why. I had heard of the bordom and lack of protein before but not this.