Feather Fixer ~ Good for molting hen(s)?

[HuffleClaw]

It's common for birds to eat each others feathers during molting time. I HATE when they do this and generally it becomes a habit you can never break once they start. Chickens THINK they are consuming high protein in these discarded feathers when in fact their bodies are unable to draw out little if any protein from them. All you can do is feed a higher protein food and pick up molted feathers as often as possible. Feather eating can clog up crops and gizzards, so do your best to keep the area clean of fallen feathers.

Thank you! She walks up to her and snatches them off of BH

I’m going to do my bet to go to TSC sometime

 

[HuffleClaw]

Poor girl

 

[TwoCrows]

Thank you! She walks up to her and snatches them off of BH

I’m going to do my bet to go to TSC sometime

I too have seen them pluck molted feathers, growing feathers too right off necks, causing all kinds of bleeding. I have had to isolate these "pickers" if they are going after one bird in particular. I would put this picker with another bird that is done molting or isn't in such bad shape? Or put her somewhere where she can't do these things.

I hate molting season.

 

[HuffleClaw]

I too have seen them pluck molted feathers, growing feathers too right off necks, causing all kinds of bleeding. I have had to isolate these "pickers" if they are going after one bird in particular. I would put this picker with another bird that is done molting or isn't in such bad shape? Or put her somewhere where she can't do these things.

I hate molting season.

Would BH be okay by herself for a bit? I just saw Opal do it too.

I have a spare coop, I just hope she won’t get too lonely

 

[TwoCrows]

Would BH be okay by herself for a bit? I just saw Opal do it too.

I have a spare coop, I just hope she won’t get to lonely

One year my entire flock was ripping growing feathers out of a particular hens neck so badly, the only thing I COULD do was isolate the hen that was being attacked! So I put her in a large cage within the flock when they were in the run during the day only, (they left her alone when they were free ranging) for a couple weeks until she grew in her neck feathers she was in her cage. She lived through it, not the best scenario, but she grew in her feathers and all was well after this. Chickens can be so mean!

 

[HuffleClaw]

One year my entire flock was ripping growing feathers out of a particular hens neck so badly, the only thing I COULD do was isolate the hen that was being attacked! So I put her in a large cage within the flock when they were in the run during the day only, (they left her alone when they were free ranging) for a couple weeks until she grew in her neck feathers she was in her cage. She lived through it, not the best scenario, but she grew in her feathers and all was well after this. Chickens can be so mean!

Okay, thank you! I’m going to try that before I 100% separate her from the flock.

 

[HuffleClaw]

She’s now hiding in the nesting box

 

[TwoCrows]

Okay, thank you! I’m going to try that before I 100% separate her from the flock.

Yes, 100% separation means reintroductions which can be worse than feather plucking! Definitely try a cage or some sort of wire separation and this only needs to be done during the day and until she grows most of her feathers in. She can sleep with the group at night however.

 

[TwoCrows]

She’s now hiding in the nesting box

Oh poor dear. You definitely need to separate her. Just keep her close to the flock so she isn't too lonely and they don't forget her either.

 

[HuffleClaw]

Yes, 100% separation means reintroductions which can be worse than feather plucking! Definitely try a cage or some sort of wire separation and this only needs to be done during the day and until she grows most of her feathers in. She can sleep with the group at night however.

Thank you Leyla!

And of course they choose to do it when she’s recovering