Feather Pecking Hereditary?

[Chwicks]

Hi all. I’m dealing with the horrible reality of feather pecking/picking in my flock.

We have (14) chickens that are 33 weeks old. One is a cockerel and the rest are pullets.

Our flock is a mix of (3) Easter Eggers, (4) Gold Laced Cochins, (5) Partridge Wyandottes (including cockerel) and (2) Austrolorps. The EEs and Wyandottes (pullets) seem to be the worst offenders.

I just read this study (https://www.researchgate.net/public...ctors_influencing_feather_pecking_in_chickens) that seems to show a correlation between pecking prevalence and each additional generation of poultry.

I was hoping to put on Pinless Peepers and get fertilized eggs from my EEs to keep colored eggs in my egg supply; however, I’m thinking that may not be feasible with (2) of my EE pullets that are pretty bad feather pickers. Our cockerel is a Wyandotte (though not a feather picker) and I’m wondering if I’m setting myself up for failure by trying to hatch eggs for future flock management from a feather pecking pullet and a breed that seems to be higher risk feather pickers (Wyandottes).

Do any of you have thoughts on this scenario? Should I just forget trying to use EE and Wyandotte eggs from my flock management strategy? The Cochins and Austrolorps seem to have little to no interest in picking and eating feathers of their flock counterparts.

I’m at my whits end with the feather picking, and I just want to try and set myself up for success in the future - to the best of my ability - through selective breeding.

Thanks!

 

[chickenenthusiasts5698]

Have you tried upping their protein?

 

[lomine]

Have you tried to find the cause of the feather picking? It won't matter which ones you use for future additions if you don't address the root of the problem.

 

[Kiki]

What size is your coop and what exactly do you feed them?

 

[Folly's place]

I agree that diet and crowding are big triggers for this behavior, and also sometimes mites or lice are part of the problem.
If all those are non-issues, then consider genetics and avoid breeding from those birds, or that single bird.
I haven't had this problem since I avoided production reds, but you don't have any of those, so do look at management issues first.
Mary

 

[Mrs. K]

Measure the coop and roosting space. You might need to reduce your flock size.
Get the pin-less peepers ASAP.

I think feather picking is a behavioral issue caused by over crowding or poor feed considerably more often than genetics. The pin-less peepers have stopped this for a lot of owners.

I would go ahead and hatch the eggs I wanted

 

[Chwicks]

Have you tried upping their protein?

Yes. They’re already on a 20% protein feed and get BOSS in the a.m.

 

[Kiki]

Yes. They’re already on a 20% protein feed and get BOSS in the a.m.

Stop the BOSS.
What size is your coop?

 

[Chwicks]

Have you tried to find the cause of the feather picking? It won't matter which ones you use for future additions if you don't address the root of the problem.

Yes. They’re on a 20% protein crumble and we give BOSS in the a.m. Mealworms are occasional treat. I’ve put all kinds of stuff in there to entertain them, but it’s still happening. They can’t free range because of predators and we have 2’ of snow on the ground already. Right now we’re at -16 F and they don’t even want to go outside. They’re run is winterized right now, so they don’t have much to look at for entertainment.

We have 14 chickens in a 150 sq ft run with a 150 sq ft coop. There are roosting rods in their run for them to walk around on and climb too.

We’ll likely remove 3 or 4 more from the flock because it’s obvious something isn’t working...

I’m open to suggestions.

 

[Chwicks]

I agree that diet and crowding are big triggers for this behavior, and also sometimes mites or lice are part of the problem.
If all those are non-issues, then consider genetics and avoid breeding from those birds, or that single bird.
I haven't had this problem since I avoided production reds, but you don't have any of those, so do look at management issues first.
Mary

Thanks! I’m doing everything I can in the way of feed and ensuring they’re getting enough protein. I feel like they’re just bored, but there’s not much I can do about that... so, I’m guessing pairing the flock back is my only other option.