Feather picking, observed. Help!

[chickenfarminghopeful]

Our family has had chickens for about 3 years now. Have had relatively few problems(excluding the occasional predator). Our set up is this: 4 hens, 1 Rooster in one roofed 10'x10' chain-linked enclosure. We also have another 10'x10' chain-linked enclosure (roofed) that we use to breed. We have three feeders: 1 laying pellets, 1 whole corn, 1 oyster shells in both enclosures. We clean cages monthly. Fresh water. Many "roosts" as we call them (i.e. items for them to fly up to and "perch"). Here's the problem: they're plucking the feathers off each others backs (the hens). They're bare. No blood, but unsightly. Why are they doing this? I need help.

BTW. Our future plans are to combine both the 10'x10' enclosures to make it 30'x10' with an old shed on prop. for coop.

Thanks for an suggestions/cures in advance

 

[chickenfarminghopeful]

Yes, I have looked at past topics. They all seemed to have some nutrition problem. I do not believe i do. I think it has to do with some stress, but why....These other topics have, like, 1000 hits. Come on guys, help!!!

 

[Imp]

Maybe there is something here that will help. Good luck

Imp

http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/lvstk2/mf2308.pdf

 

[BWchicken]

Hello, and

It doesn't sound like they're overcrowded, and it's possible they're just doing it out of boredom. Another very common reason for feather picking is they're needing more protein. They will pick the feathers for the protein (feathers are made up of mostly protein). Layer pellets don't always have a lot of protein and giving them a feeder full of corn lowers their protein intake even more. Corn is pretty much useless as a feed. It has little nutritional value and is best given only as a treat. You may try putting them on a feed with around 20% protein (Purina FlockRaiser is a good one), continue offering the oyster shell on the side, but take the corn feeder away. That way, they'll be getting the full amount of protein and nutrients from the feed itself, and see if that stops the feather picking. Hope this helps!

Edited to add... In the meantime, you can get some Blu-Kote to put on their bare spots to discourage the feather picking. Chickens can't resist pecking the bare spots on each other, and will end up drawing blood and worse. You may already know this, but Blu-Kote is a dark purple liquid antiseptic, the dark color masks the bare spot, and that discourages the picking. You can get it at TSC or feed stores. I use the spray, it's much easier for me to apply than the liquid.

 

[purpledonna]

I would try increasing their protein intake.... it worked for me!

 

[Kim_NC]

I would remove the corn and fill that feeder with laying pellets. Only give a small amount of corn as a treat. Corn and scratch are like candy to chickens. They will fill-up on it and eat less pellets, but it's only about 8% protein. They need a minimum 16% protein to support feather production and egg production. When their nutrition is 'off' they can opt to peck each others' feathers for the protein content.

Confinement and boredom can be problems as well. But that doesn't sound like an issue with your set-up. You could give them a head of cabbage or something similar - like hang a bird suet feeder with treats - to entertain them.

 

[ChickenMama18]

Poppin in to comment. We have a plucker in our flock. So if I understand correctly...the best way for them to get their protein is in the pellet feed? We eat hard boiled eggs a lot but my son won't eat the yolk. Sometimes we give that back to the birds...is that protein for them? What other forms of protein is there that we could feed? I'm desperate to solve this problem!

 

[Kim_NC]

Quote:
I feed 20% pellets...that way when they get treats it doesn't pull their protein intake below 16%. I keep treats to not more than 10-15% of their daily food....or what they can clean-up in 15-20 minutes or less.

Eggs, including both yolk and white are full of protein. Some other high protein sources are...

- game bird crumbles, most are 28%. I wet them with hot water and feed as a mash to reduce waste. And the girls think it's huge treat.
- cat food, often 31-35%, careful not to feed too much, use it as a treat because it often also has salt
- liver
- meats
- meal worms or other bugs

 

[chickenfarminghopeful]

Thanks guys for all the feedback. I think, based on your comments, i might pull the whole corn. Like i said, i have 3 feeders: 1 laying pellets, 1 corn, 1 oyster shell. Has anyone heard of Rooster Booster? And if you have should I replace that with the whole corn?
Seems like the consensus is a protein problem.

Mike....

 

[BWchicken]

I don't know much about Rooster Booster, maybe someone else will chime in about that. How much protein is in your layer pellets? Since your birds seem to be needing more protein right now, you may want to try a bag of the layer pellets with 20% protein or try FlockRaiser. You really don't need a third feeder, the one with layer pellets and the one with oyster shell is all you need. That's what I do, I use Purina FlockRaiser (20% protein) in the feeder, and a separate dish with oyster shell, and my birds are very healthy and lay perfect eggs. Plus the higher protein in the FlockRaiser makes their feathers so pretty and glossy.