feather eating!! Help!!

[barnyard betty]

Hey there...I have a few mature hens that are starting to eat feathers and are even plucking them off my younger pullets in order to eat them!
Anyone have the same problem and/or knows what are the possible causes are and how to stop it?
They always have ample food (layer) and water available and oyster shell, and have a big enough yard to explore each day. This just started a few weeks ago and not sure why.
Please help!

 

[jdavis]

try styrafoam, i know it sounds bad but i had the same problem and an older more experienced lady namely my mother told me to put styrafoam in the pen for them to pick at and it worked. i took the styrafoam out of an old tv box and put it out there for them and they made a real mess with it but it helped the issue. i thought it wouldnt be good for them but it didnt seem to bother them in any way at all. i guess it just took their mind off of picking feathers.

 

[groundpecker]

I am not 100% certain on an answer that is correct, but here it goes.
Possible causes:
over crowding in the pen (make a bigger pen)
improper diet ( try adding oyster shell)
Boredom
Fighting for dominance
They like the taste of feathers

Possible solutions:
Buy some type of "stop pick" product and use it on the areas being picked at.
Separate the worst pickers from the rest of the flock.
Try adding variety to their diet.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Try giving them a flock block or hang a cabbage for them to pick at. I agree with groundpecker, the usual causes for feather picking are lack of space, lack of protein or boredom. Don't feed you chickens styrafoam. Its true, for some reason the love to pick at it, but I can't imagine it would be remotely good for them. Good luck.

 

[cva34]

I'm with the last 2 answers. and add possible empty plastic milk jug for them to peck at .Also maybe need more Protein in feed...cva34