I have nine beautiful two yr old hens, they have enough space (i let them forage in the yard every day, and put them back at night) Unfortunately two of my hens are extremely feather picked. One is a Rhode island red, and one is a Barred Plymouth Rock, they are both bald on their backs and their wings are pretty ragged. I've tried a chicken saddle/apron, ( I finally gave up, after my Rhode Island Red got one of the straps wrapped around her neck and nearly strangled herself.) and I am considering getting anti-peck spray. I have no idea why they are continuing feather picking, they may have been not getting enough food before, because the feeder would get clogged up, but I check it twice a day now so they have plenty of food now. They get layer mash with cracked corn and oyster shells in it, they also get food scraps and forage in the yard. I have seen them eat feathers, but not all the time. Also my flock doesn't moult. Should I give them more oyster shell? Does anybody have any suggestions?
Everybody's flock molts, some breeds like longtails it's only once in a blue moon but they all molt. Sometimes you don't notice it because they do the process over time though. The best "medicine" that I know of. would be to separate the two that are getting pecked and keep them separate until their feathers grow back. I've done it and it has never failed me.
Read the link under my sig. I dealt with this too. Pinless peepers work great along with additional animal protien.
Eliminating or reducing the cracked corn should help, too, and really it is better to feed it separately as a treat. They tend to bill out the feed to get at the corn, if they can.
