Feather Eating

[centrarchid]

Consumption of shed feathers is normal, especially among immature chickens. In confinement the consumption can extend to feathers not ready to be shed (feather picking) and even new feathers. Carried far enough and you can have chickens running about more than half naked. In extreme cases is can lead to actual consumption of flesh and death of the consumed individual. I am rearing several batches of 30+ chicks and feather picking is becoming an issue. Space is part of the problem for some batches but a couple it is not. Where the problem is apparent, the chicks have very little to do. A lot of hay has been placed up against walls of pens where chicks have began pecking heavily on that. We shall see if it stops feather picking and / or prevents it from starting in younger batches.

 

[Izzychicky]

Try hanging treats in their brooder
Or giving them something to keep them distracted, they might be bored and started picking each other. If it continues and their is blood then try using blue kote to try and stop them From continuing

 

[centrarchid]

That is purpose behind use of hay, a distraction or environmental enrichment. Treats do not seem to be effective as I have tried that before. Previously rounds where stopped by placing birds in much larger confines and using a lot more free-range time.

 

[aart]

@centrarchid I truly appreciate your documenting these observations.
Your background and perspective as a biologist(?) zoologist(?), what ever it is, gives them all the more credence.

 

[josebeth1]

When I was told this, about 10 years ago by someone at the hatchery where I got my first chicks, I thought they were crazy! After all, after a lifetime of indoor cage birds where "drafts" are a big no-no, this ran totally opposite my gut feeling. BUT it works every time! I keep a small, clip-on fan running in each brooder (aimed so the air flows directly above the chicks and doesn't mess with the area below the heat source). No amount of distraction by throwing in grass, etc. helped + hay is often responsible for crop impaction. (not that I can stop that out in the barn--I just can't imagine treating crop impaction on a tiny chick!)

 

[centrarchid]

I have yet to deal with crop impact when chickens properly supplied with grit. My adult birds routinely consume hay, even the stems without issue.

@aart, zoologist is major of final degree. Degrees prior some sort of biologist. Plus zoology is a specialization within biology.

 

[josebeth1]

Ah, but do your chickens free-range? Therein lies the problem! What stops mine up is inevitably grass/hay/something (like feathers) not in the regular diet which, of course, includes free-choice grit.

 

[centrarchid]

Ah, but do your chickens free-range? Therein lies the problem! What stops mine up is inevitably grass/hay/something (like feathers) not in the regular diet which, of course, includes free-choice grit.

Give me a bit to post nearly a dozen pens of chickens, half the pens contain chickens that are not free-range kept. The remainder free-range at least part of the day with some doing so 24/7 where their movements are in know way fettered. The gamut is very well covered here!