Feather Pickers: Extreme case/results

[Latestarter]

I have had large groups of chickens in my past when I lived in Colorado. I let them go when I moved to NE TX. Back in August, I purchased 5 pullets; 2 BOs and 3 RIRs. In my past experience, BO's are very laid back and RIRs can be rather vicious. Not this time... They all started laying about early November. there were no issues and they all got along.

About two weeks ago I noticed a bald spot (feather picking) developing at the tail head of one of the RIRs. The next day I went out and there was a bare spot, meat missing, blood and a 2nd RIR had also been balded at the tail base but no broken skin, just irritation. I pulled the injured one and blukoted both.

Long story short. I sat in their area and watched to see and it was both BO's that were doing the picking/eating. But they in turn got the RIRs involved doing it as well, to the other RIRs. I had to put down the worst damaged ~3 days ago. I separated the BO's out and put the 2 injured RIR's together. (The BO's don't attack each other) They (RIRs) were OK for 2 days. Tonight I found one of the RIR's ate the whole back end out of the other. I put that one down a short while ago.

Spoiler: Disturbing pictures: blood, damaged flesh

I have now put the 2 BOs back in the pen along with the one remaining (Blukoted, healing) RIR. I anticipate that at some point tomorrow, I will be euthanizing the final RIR and will be down to 2 chickens.

 

[Brahmachicken240]

That’s awful.
Sorry for your losses
And hopefully after you cull this last one it will stop.

 

[aart]

Yikes!!
How old are these birds?
Wondering about space and diet....but you are an experienced keeper so I would think you've got that covered.

 

[21hens-incharge]

WOW LS! Long time no see!

That's awful to have such a normally gentle breed be nutty.

Sounds like duds all around once it started.

 

[Latestarter]

(Was) 5 birds, almost 100 square feet internal space. Now 3 and expect soon to be 2. Standard 16% layer feed. Maybe 9-10 months old? Not sure of exact age as I bought them as started pullets in August at 4-5 months. They hit POL in early Nov. Grit and oyster shell provided, Little bit of scratch every now and again for training purposes.

 

[aart]

Maybe give them some animal protein?

They are obviously craving it .
Sorry, just a little levity for a horrible situation.

Tho the habit may now be ingrained rather than being a diet issue.
Wonders about their background, both housing and diet.
You may have just bought someone else's problems?

 

[Latestarter]

Hey there 21 Hens! How you doing sweetie? Sorry I never got to meet you in person and share a cuppa/canna (something ) before I moved away from CO. I'm here virtually every day... Visit the old folks home and that's about it.

Little levity is ALWAYS appreciated Aart! Sometimes it's a situation's only saving grace. Figured I'd post this fiasco so folks could see the potential outcome of feather picking.

Found they've already started back in on the last RIR this morning. It was sitting up high perched atop the waterer with blood dripping down the side of it. I Blukoted her (& most of one hand) and set her back in the pen and within seconds, the 2 BO's had started following her looking to try and eat some more. I put her back up high and will cull her this afternoon.

I bought them from an old farmer who had large open air fenced enclosures/coops on dirt with dozens of both breeds inside. He used a fishing net to capture the ones I wanted. The enclosure was probably 12' x 12' with 2 sides being board walls and a roof over top. My guess is he ordered or hatched hundreds of chicks, fed em and grew them out for several months then sold them as started pullets. No idea where he got them from.

 

[JedJackson]

It sounds like the birds learned this habit from the seller's flock. At some point in their lives, they were probably not fed enough, particularly protein, and they may have been overcrowded. For either or both reasons, these birds turned to feather picking, which escalated to cannibalism, and there's probably nothing you can do to break them of the habit at this point.

As Aart said, more protein in their diet is your best shot at fixing the problem. Either use a higher protein feed or supplement with dry cat food or meal worms. But I wouldn't be surprised if the Orpingtons turned on each other once the last RIR is gone. Hopefully it won't happen and the protein will work, but feather picking and cannibalism often can't be cured.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Been doing ok LS. Staying busy with new(ish) puppies in the house.

I will have to check out the old folks home.