Feather Picking Frustration

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

You're very lucky. Ours are bullies. The poor red stars are plucked bald.

 

[MagsC]

Separate the bully for sure.

 

[littlelemon]

My barred rocks are also bullies. I had a buff orp that they picked on mercilessly. She was bald for the year we had her. I finally gave her to a friend of mine, and wouldn't you know, she was getting her feathers back within a week! They aren't as bad with the rest of the hens, but they are the bossiest chickens I have had!

 

[MissChessy]

Sorry ladies, I must have made it sound like 29 chickens were picking on one hen, it's the other way around. I have this one fully feathered barred rock that is bullying 28 hens and picking on their feathers. She is the instigator of the feather picking.

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

Yep - I can relate. We separated our BR bully hen but then another took her place. It's just not nice.

 

[MissPrissy]

If you take her out another hem will step up to alpha.

Can you divide the flock, feed the heaby plucked girls gamebird 24% protein to help grow back feathers?

Or - use duct tape and cover their naked backs the same as a saddle from roosters. She won't be able to pick the new feathers coming in and they will be protected from her.

 

[mudhen]

MissPrissy, I've heard of the duct tape help for protecting the feathers as they grow in, but how does one take the tape off? Does it fall off by itself after a while?

 

[MissPrissy]

Let it fall off.

 

[mudhen]

OK, I'm going to try this on one hen who picks at her own back feathers...

Thank you!

 

[MissPrissy]

The cheap stuff won't stick and stay on as well as name brand duct tape.