Feather Eating Solutions?

[Slick Chicken 101]

I have about 7 Easter Eggers hens (not quite a year old from a hachery). About halfway through winter they started eating one another's back feathers. They don't draw blood but it still isn't good. They have had plenty of feed, foraging opertunities, calcium and grit. I've tryed Blu Kote and Peck No More but they won't stop, it just slows them up for a day or two. Any suggestions?

 

[Oldegarlicshnapp]

in my experience, feather eating comes from boredom or a calcium deficiency. Are you supplementing calcium through eggshells or via vitamins? If it’s through eggshells, I’m not a fan of that. I’d recommend getting eggshells with the tissue removed (peel them off wet) and put it inside of some kind of vinegar (ACV, rice, etc). Once the active bubbling stops, you have water soluble calcium.

I also suggest not using only one kind of feed. They guys I know with flocks have many kinds they mix themselves. Layer feed has been said to be the worst thing to feed chickens to lay eggs, as there’s vitamin deficiencies there.

And finally, fermenting my feed has really helped me out. My hen hadn’t laid eggs in two years until I started giving her fermented feed. Bacteria breaks down food so that the nutrients are accessible to the body. With my seramas, there’s little digestion going on as it’s just in an out in their small bodies. So fermenting is digesting the food for them.

 

[nuthatched]

It's either, too small of space, boredom or not enough protein in their diet. How big is their area for how many birds? And their diet?

in my experience, feather eating comes from boredom or a calcium deficiency. Are you supplementing calcium through eggshells or via vitamins? If it’s through eggshells, I’m not a fan of that. I’d recommend getting eggshells with the tissue removed (peel them off wet) and put it inside of some kind of vinegar (ACV, rice, etc). Once the active bubbling stops, you have water soluble calcium.

I also suggest not using only one kind of feed. They guys I know with flocks have many kinds they mix themselves. Layer feed has been said to be the worst thing to feed chickens to lay eggs, as there’s vitamin deficiencies there.

It's lack of protein not calcium, as feathers don't contain any calcium.
Layer feed has too little protein, it has just the bare minimum requirement of protein. The vitamins are fine. You're on the right track, just got off at the wrong station. :]

 

[Slick Chicken 101]

They have a good diet protein and calcium wise, the space is plenty large enough, it could be from boredom, this spring (soon) they will get outside. My free-ranging time is limited due to predators and insanely cold weather. Is there like some food or ointment I can give them to make it stop?

 

[Slick Chicken 101]

Is there a certain protein level I should feed them to stop? Like meat maker possibly?

 

[ChickNanny13]

What are you feeding? What's the dimension of their coop/run?

It's recommended 4 sq ft per chicken in a coop ... 10 sq ft per chicken in a run ... but bigger the better (Chicken Math) less issues. It's either crowding, border or need for more protein (not calcium as said).

If you're feeding layer it's only 16% protein w/more calcium as needed by layers. I feed 20% protein, some feed Starter/Grower with separate dish of Oyster Shells when they start laying. Some feed too many "treats" which throw off the nutrition of their feed. I also toss some Meal Worms (protein) when I close them up.