Feather Pecking

[MAT10]

HEY Ya'll... Tomorrow is Easter. Where do you hide the eggs?






"Eggs" marks the spot!
HAPPY EASTER!!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Raising BYC is barely a taste of what our ancestors endured.

In the 1950's and 1960's when I was a kid my parents had a farm in East Tennessee. The chicken flock consisted of 1 rooster and about 25 to 30 hens. Those chickens were basically feral. Most slept in a hen house where we would shut the door at night but several slept in trees, even in winter when the temperatures got below zero Fahrenheit. Every year some hens would go broody and we would hatch out a bunch of chicks. We got enough eggs to eat plus occasionally sell a few at the small local mom 'n pop grocery store, essentially trading them for groceries. We'd eat several chickens throughout the year.

It was my job to collect the eggs every evening. Most would lay in the hen house but some would hide a nest, often in the hay barn but occasionally somewhere else. I found most of the hidden nests but occasionally a hen would lead a bunch of chicks out, a total surprise.

We would raise about 2 acres of corn. Most of that was to feed our pigs to butcher size, give some to the milk cow, and for the plow horses. In winter, if there was snow on the ground, we would shell some corn for the chickens. Not a lot but enough to help them out. It really did not amount to much for the chickens, not compared to what the other animals ate.

Once a fox found our flock and was taking a chicken every morning as they left the henhouse for about 4 or 5 days, until Dad figured out what was going on, then he shot that fox. Another time a dog showed up and was killing the chickens. Mom's brother happened to be visiting that day so he shot the dog as Dad was away. Those were the only losses to predators I am aware of. For part of that time we had a dog that stayed outside all the time and kept some predators away but often we did not have a dog. If a skunk, raccoon, or possum was found it was probably shot so they were kept to a minimum.

So the work involved with the chickens was to:

collect eggs every day.

mark and set eggs when a hen went broody and we wanted chicks but the hens hatched and raised the chicks by themselves.

Feed them some corn on snowy days, probably less than a dozen days a year.

They drank from the farm pond. When the pond was iced over we'd break through so they could drink, but we did that more for the horses and cattle than the chickens.

Take care of predators when they showed up. Be a bit proactive about this.

Keep the garden fence repaired to keep the chickens out.

Treat them for mites when they became infested. I remember that happening twice.

None of this was very burdening. The chickens basically took care of themselves and we reaped the benefits.

I read on here where the chickens can't survive unless they receive high protein feed and other stuff. I don't believe that as we had some of the same breeds people have today and they fed themselves. But we are now in a different world and we have to take a lot better care of them regarding predators and feeding them as they cannot get the quality of forage they had on the farm.

 

[Possum-Pie]

Mat10, I mean I'm getting rid of the Bard Rock. I won't allow one hen to bully another. I've tried separating her in a cage for a while, adding distractions to the run, but nothing worked. I've given her many chances to get tired of the bullying and she hasn't.

Ridgerunner, I agree "mostly" with the idea chickens will do just fine without humans micromanaging their lives. Modern science has developed medicines and foods that can help them live healthier, longer lives, but the extreme of this is people spending huge amounts of money on high-priced foods and supplements, many of which have little or no scientific evidence warranting their high prices. My chickens have access to a waterer, yet drink out of the muddiest puddle they can find. They eat budget feed from Rural King and anything that they can catch in their run. We throw them greens from the garden occasionally and they do just fine.

I think there are different philosophies between folks who own chickens, The ones who only do it for the eggs/meat, and those who love them like pets and name them. I fall somewhere in between, I refuse to name them, won't pick them up to hold, and don't talk to them, there are too many chances of preditors, etc. to get overly attached, but I couldn't eat one of my hens b/c despite trying not to get overly attached, I do like to watch them.

 

[MAT10]

I'd look at dealing with the culprit first. What does your set up look like? What do you feed the flock?

Feather picking can sometimes be related to protein levels, but more commonly is a result of boredom or stress.

Have you looked into pinless peepers for the culprit?

Okay... Some time has passed, and I really cannot figure out who the bully is because now more of my hens are missing feathers around their neck area (slightly). My red Sex Link, buff orpington, lavender orpington, and I have not seen again any specific bird pecking feathers. So, here is what I have done for my Oreo that is missing so much feathering on her back. Any comments?
The following is from the manufacturer where I bought this off Amazon... "

I'd look at dealing with the culprit first. What does your set up look like? What do you feed the flock?

Feather picking can sometimes be related to protein levels, but more commonly is a result of boredom or stress.

Have you looked into pinless peepers for the culprit?

What about this?

A feather pecked bird that will heal and regrow its feathers with the help of a saddle.​

Our saddles also help birds heal, if they have been feather pecked, preventing further damage. By fitting them at the first sign of any feather pecking, it helps stop the habit from developing. With the damaged area covered, the other birds are unable to continue pecking and so the feathers grow back to normal without having to remove and isolate the injured bird.

Bought this off Amazon.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I have no experience with a saddle. Some folks say they help, sometimes they make the bird more of a target. Doesn't hurt to try it and just remember to check under it often for parasites or any sign of irritation.

 

[Possum-Pie]

I quickly glanced over the thread again, it's been a while since it was active. My Bard Rock is still around- I didn't give her away and she has lessened her bullying. The SLW is still shabby-looking but finally seems to be getting back some of her feathers.

Have you considered parasites? Some are obvious, but some are almost invisible. Chickens will preen, but if you see excessive scratching, especially around the vent and neck, it may be that they are infected. I've seen hens pecking at other's necks and it was b/c of parasites. As long as the saddle isn't making her a worse target, it will protect the back feathers until they grow back. I don't know how hot it gets where you live, but I wouldn't leave a saddle on if the temps are above mid-80s... chickens' internal temps are above 100 anyway and in extreme heat they can dehydrate quickly.

 

[MAT10]

I quickly glanced over the thread again, it's been a while since it was active. My Bard Rock is still around- I didn't give her away and she has lessened her bullying. The SLW is still shabby-looking but finally seems to be getting back some of her feathers.

Have you considered parasites? Some are obvious, but some are almost invisible. Chickens will preen, but if you see excessive scratching, especially around the vent and neck, it may be that they are infected. I've seen hens pecking at other's necks and it was b/c of parasites. As long as the saddle isn't making her a worse target, it will protect the back feathers until they grow back. I don't know how hot it gets where you live, but I wouldn't leave a saddle on if the temps are above mid-80s... chickens' internal temps are above 100 anyway and in extreme heat they can dehydrate quickly.

I haven't seen any mites/lice or parasites. How do I determine any parasites?

My concern as I check my SLW back, is it staying clean enough. Skin looks better already. She dust baths & I wonder if the dirt doesnt get trapped undernearh the saddle. Any harm there? Should I maybe just take it off during her roosting? I did dust her last check with some poultry dust.
So, afterthought... I understand that I am not exempt but I did an online search about chicken parasites. I am not convinced that my chickens have them, but I know they could. I keep my coop extremely dry & clean. Their Roost bar is a single 2x4 that's elevated above a dropping board which is covered in linoleum with sand on top of that. The nesting boxes are also are covered with linoleum and I just changed it out (straw bedding) which I do fairly often and I always use poultry dust inside as well as various herbs. Their dust bath is a mixture of dirt sand and wood ash and occasional DE added.
I am at a loss. I will recheck them all again tomorrow and dust them. Had to give my LH a bath to clean up her bottom (she has not been feeling too well but doing better now. Her story in another thread; also dusted her bottom after drying). My LO also has a dirty bottom but, I am not seeing any visible parasites. She'll get her spa day tomorrow

Hoping to clean off anything I may be missing.

Thoughts?

 

[aart]

How do I determine any parasites?

Check them over real well for mites and/or lice:

Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Look fast, they will scatter quickly once the feathers are parted and the light hits them.


Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).

Good post about mite ID by Lady McCamley:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-chicken-has-mites-now-what.1273674/page-2#post-20483008

 

[MAT10]

I will try that. After my post I did go outside and look them over really well. Did not see anything except the broken feathers. However, I did dust them with poultry dust on neck, back of neck, beneath wings, and vent area well.

Also, forgot to mention that I routinely spray the roost bar with white vinegar / water mixture ( mostly vinegar) as well as the nest boxes when I remove all the old straw. I also spray the ramp into their coop and a perch 2x4 bar in the enclosed run. I spray the vinyl curtains that hang to cover the nest boxes too. (about every 10 days or so) it is my understanding that it works like a disinfectant.

With that said, I found nearly all of their bums (except 4 out of 10 hens) were a little dirty with dried poop stuck to the feathers but, they're vents ALL look good and clean, no discharges. The 3 of the 4 exceptions (BCM, BA, RIR) don't have missing feathers either but... neither does my Salmon Favorele & EE but they have a messy bum. My BO is missing feathers (slightly) & NO messy bum.
Plan on bathing one at a time tomorrow.

Thank you for all the helpful insights. I love this site. It is my chicken care go to

 

[Possum-Pie]

As a healthcare professional, I'm constantly telling horrified parents that just b/c your child has lice/scabies/etc. doesn't mean that they are not clean or you are a poor parent. Kids (and chickens) go into the real world where there are parasites. having a clean home/coop can't prevent 100% of infestations. It is no reflection on you.

One other thing to try is putting some tape over the corners of the roost sticky-side up. This can catch some sneaky bugs and trap them for you to see. You may not have parasites, but in my experience bugs are easier to "cure" than a bully. Here's hoping you DO find that that is the issue.