feather picking on back of neck

[chookylady]

Are there any home remedies or suggestions for stopping feather picking?
My little Indian game hen, Indira, is only a year old, free-ranges in our garden with her English game hen-friend, Gabby, but is losing all the lovely feathers on the back of her neck.

They have plenty of food, shelter and water available (food is a scratch mix, plus suitable kitchen scraps and weeds) and she's a regular layer - albeit in different parts of the yard, which makes finding the eggs a bit of a challenge sometimes!

I've tried a bitter spray, but that doesn't seem to be having any effect at all.
The only behavioural thing that is a little odd, is that when we first got her, she was the top chook, but now Gabby seems to have the upper hand every now and then. I haven't seen Gabby pick at her, though.

I think Indira's picking her own feathers out, perhaps over-preening?

 

[bunch-a-chickens]

are there any roosters? if so, she could be over mated. if not, maybe molting? if it"s pecking, you can put blu kote on the affected spot.

 

[PurpleChicken]

It sounds like she isn't getting enough protein. Scratch is pure carbs and
a poor food. This time of year the bugs go away so finding protein is tough.

Get them some game starter for a quick protein boost. See if it helps.
Make sure it's non-medicated game starter, not chick starter.

 

[chookylady]

Thanks for the suggestions - there's no rooster (we're not allowed to keep them

) and I can't find anyone in Australia who stocks blu kote (I have heard of it and tried to order it locally, but no luck). They've been through their moult earlier in the year.

They do seem to get plenty of bugs and creepy-crawlies here (it's summer), as I keep a number of logs in the yard so we can turn them over as a special treat, but will give 'em a protein boost and see if that helps.

I was thinking of making a special neck sleeve to cover the area, but thought it might just distress her.
Might try to find an overseas supplier of blu kote that can send it over...