Feather pecking only in dust bath?

[Shannon L F]

I have 9 6mo old hens.5 Danish Brown Leghorns and 4 Buff Orphingtons. They have been raised together since 1 day old. I am having a big problem with the 5 stupid brown leghorns. When one or two of them is in the dust bath, the other browns go over and stand by them and peck out the feathers on their lower backs. They all do it, so now all 5 of them have big bald spots in the same spot (low back) The Buff O's don't do it and they are not pecked at.The Leghorns only peck each other and only while they are in the dust bath. We tried the No-Peck purple goop. Didn't help. They would NOT HAPPILY remove it themselves or they would still just get pecked. As soon as anyone of them start to show new feather growth, they are plucked out. I've also seen them eating the feathers. I should say they are very spoiled, food wise. Top quality lay crumbles, a variety of fruits and veggies, dehydrated mealworms, and I even buy crickets from the feed store. So I don't think it's a nutrition thing. They have a very large coop and run. (no free range) too many predators.I'm really worried that it will get worse and start to get bloody. Right now, it's a completely bald spot. I've already witnessed how bad that can be!! One of my Buff O's got a prolapsed uterus laying her 1st egg and by the time I found her, the other hens had pecked at it so bad that she had lost a lot of blood and was in shock. I brought her inside and she died in my arms about a half an hour later. So...I'm desperate to find a way to stop this feather plucking!!

 

[Shannon L F]

It was called Rooster Booster Pick No More!!

 

[azygous]

I started a thread on feather picking https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/697052/i-think-i-found-a-miracle-cure-for-feather-picking to explore all the ways to combat it, and there are a few things you might try.

None of the things actually cures this bad habit, but pinless peepers and bumpa bits, both sold on this web site, are the most effective, by inhibiting the ability to pick.

Another thing to try is saddle aprons worn over the bald spot on the back. This depends on the hen not being successful in removing the garment, but most will tolerate it.

I haven't found that Pick-no-more to be of any effectiveness, either.

 

[KellyBogo]

I have 9 6mo old hens.5 Danish Brown Leghorns and 4 Buff Orphingtons. They have been raised together since 1 day old. I am having a big problem with the 5 stupid brown leghorns. When one or two of them is in the dust bath, the other browns go over and stand by them and peck out the feathers on their lower backs. They all do it, so now all 5 of them have big bald spots in the same spot (low back) The Buff O's don't do it and they are not pecked at.The Leghorns only peck each other and only while they are in the dust bath. We tried the No-Peck purple goop. Didn't help. They would NOT HAPPILY remove it themselves or they would still just get pecked. As soon as anyone of them start to show new feather growth, they are plucked out. I've also seen them eating the feathers. I should say they are very spoiled, food wise. Top quality lay crumbles, a variety of fruits and veggies, dehydrated mealworms, and I even buy crickets from the feed store. So I don't think it's a nutrition thing. They have a very large coop and run. (no free range) too many predators.I'm really worried that it will get worse and start to get bloody. Right now, it's a completely bald spot. I've already witnessed how bad that can be!! One of my Buff O's got a prolapsed uterus laying her 1st egg and by the time I found her, the other hens had pecked at it so bad that she had lost a lot of blood and was in shock. I brought her inside and she died in my arms about a half an hour later. So...I'm desperate to find a way to stop this feather plucking!!

Hello,

Can you share if you were able to resolve this? I am having the same issues in my flock.