Feather pecking to the point of bleeding

[ashleyconnie]

Please be kind, I am trying so hard.

I can’t seem to catch a break and am feeling like an absolute failure of a chicken keeper right now. We have had our only rooster in our house for over five weeks now due to frostbite on his feet, a horrible molt, and being picked on by his hens while he was weak.

Now, they thave started picking and eating each other’s feathers - I thought it was a protein issue so I’ve upped protein (18% feed and lots of scrambled eggs and black oil sunflower seeds) but tonight I went out to the coop and found my poor sweet Ameraucana pecked bald on her lower back and bleeding. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.

I washed her wound, applied vetricyn and stop-pick liberally. I also applied it to the other birds who have any physical signs of pecking / feather breakage. I also have a hen saddle I can put on her.

Could this be because I removed their rooster? What else could possibly be causing it? And what on earth do I do? They have enough space in the coop and run and temperatures have been mild and everyone seems otherwise healthy and is laying normally. They’re all 8-10 months old.

Thank you in advance.

 

[CluckerFamily]

Do you have objects in the run for them to jump up on to escape the peckers?
Maybe they need some distractions. In the winter I will place a plastic water bottle that I drilled holes in sides, filled the bottle up with feed/treats and the chickens scrap it around to get the food out.

 

[ashleyconnie]

Do you have objects in the run for them to jump up on to escape the peckers?
Maybe they need some distractions. In the winter I will place a plastic water bottle that I drilled holes in sides, filled the bottle up with feed/treats and the chickens scrap it around to get the food out.

Thank you. We do have quite a bit of enrichment in the coop and run but maybe there needs to be more. It’s possible they are bored - we’re in Alberta, Canada and we only get about 8 hours of daylight right now so they’re in the coop a lot of the time right now.

 

[Mandee297]

Please be kind, I am trying so hard.

I can’t seem to catch a break and am feeling like an absolute failure of a chicken keeper right now. We have had our only rooster in our house for over five weeks now due to frostbite on his feet, a horrible molt, and being picked on by his hens while he was weak.

Now, they thave started picking and eating each other’s feathers - I thought it was a protein issue so I’ve upped protein (18% feed and lots of scrambled eggs and black oil sunflower seeds) but tonight I went out to the coop and found my poor sweet Ameraucana pecked bald on her lower back and bleeding. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.

I washed her wound, applied vetricyn and stop-pick liberally. I also applied it to the other birds who have any physical signs of pecking / feather breakage. I also have a hen saddle I can put on her.

Could this be because I removed their rooster? What else could possibly be causing it? And what on earth do I do? They have enough space in the coop and run and temperatures have been mild and everyone seems otherwise healthy and is laying normally. They’re all 8-10 months old.

Thank you in advance.

Hi Ashley,
I just wanted to see if you had any luck with your feather pecker? I have a girl who is very bald and has an apron on.. Her legs are now losing feathers. its sad. I am feeling pretty hopeless too. Have use all the peck no more lotions, etc.