Feather picker

[Chick2chicken]

Today I noticed that above the vent of my chickens the feathers have been plucked and its bleeding a bit. I dont know what to do should I wash it or just let it be? It happened on all of the chickens and its in the same place on all of them i'm going to give them more oyster shells and make a new nest box. Am I doing the right thing HELP.
thanks in advance
chick2chicken

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That is something to take very seriously as cannibalism can happen next. Find the one that isn't picked on and remove it temporarily as it would be your culprit.

Generally feather picking is from boredom, crowding or a protein deficiency.

How big is your set up? What do your birds do all day? What are you feeding them?

 

[lazy gardener]

OHLD is asking some very important questions that need to be answered to protect the lives of your birds. You also should do a mite/lice inspection.

 

[azygous]

Get some Blu-kote or Blue Lotion. It's purple and when painted on the bare skin, it will disguise it so the chickens won't be attracted to it. It will also help heal any sores.

Take the chickens with perfect plumage and place them into a pen away from the others. Keep them away for at least a week. Meanwhile, go online and buy some pinless peepers. When they come, install them on the chickens you have in "jail". You will need snap-ring pliers to put them on.

Are you in the USA? You should be able to find them.

 

[aart]

How big is your set up? What are you feeding them?

Most important questions...should be answered first.
Size of coop and run in feet by feet?... pics too please....
.... and how many birds do you have?

How and what exactly are you feeding?
What is the protein percentage of the main feed you are using?

 

[andreanar]

I'm having this problem with 1 of my chickens, she has an almost bald neck right now. There is no wound..yet. I'm going to try some Pick No More lotion today. And my birds free range all day, and have a very large coop. Some of the girls just don't like her. Ill report back on the lotion.

 

[azygous]

Get some Blu-kote or Blue Lotion. It works as well as Pick-no-mor and it's not as greasy and messy. It disguises the skin to be less attractive to pickers.

 

[aart]

I've found the blue stuff to be almost as attractive for pecking as blood.

Most my EE pick each others beards clean off, necks too, they take turns and stand still for it...crazy...f I thought the blue stuff would help, I'd have largely bluefaced and necked chicken.

Have actually noticed lately they are all growing back.

 

[andreanar]

I've found the blue stuff to be almost as attractive for pecking as blood.

Most my EE pick each others beards clean off, necks too, they take turns and stand still for it...crazy...f I thought the blue stuff would help, I'd have largely bluefaced and necked chicken.

Have actually noticed lately they are all growing back.

That's so funny, same thing with my EE's! And the Blu Kote hasn't helped in the past. Just given me blue beaked chickens! haha

 

[azygous]

I said it works as well as Pick-no-mor. I didn't say it works! It's been my experience neither works to stop picking, but Blu-kote is far less of a mess and does slow it down by removing the attraction of the bald skin and may help conserve the emerging pin feathers in those areas.

Pinless peepers work the best of any no-pick remedy. And that's only maybe 50% effective.

This is one issue where we really can't offer a 100% alternative for solving the problem, sad to say. I'm enjoying my EEs' new beards right now because I know they'll be short-lived. Sigh.