Feather Picking

[runnermom]

I know this is common...it's getting worse and I can't figure out why. Our 6 girls have plenty of room. 8'x10' coop, and 30 foot by 8 foot run.

The 3 chickens with the picked feathers are the middle ones in the pecking order. The top 2 and the low man on the totem pole are fine. I tried giving them some cat food and they don't like it for extra protein. I am giving them layer feed. (Big Gain from my local feed mill) Here are a few pics. It's the feathers above their tails. Any ideas on what to do? My GLW is getting a bald spot!

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

Do you have a roo?

 

[runnermom]

Do you have a roo?

No, we do not have a rooster. 6 hens

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

No, we do not have a rooster. 6 hens

Well, you might try switching feed. Can you take a picture of the feed label?

 

[Dlrpn1]

I know this is common...it's getting worse and I can't figure out why. Our 6 girls have plenty of room. 8'x10' coop, and 30 foot by 8 foot run.

The 3 chickens with the picked feathers are the middle ones in the pecking order. The top 2 and the low man on the totem pole are fine. I tried giving them some cat food and they don't like it for extra protein. I am giving them layer feed. (Big Gain from my local feed mill) Here are a few pics. It's the feathers above their tails. Any ideas on what to do? My GLW is getting a bald spot!
View attachment 1097953 View attachment 1097954 View attachment 1097955

 

[Dlrpn1]

I find layer feed with only vegetable protein , no animal protein does not give enough protein, I had feather pickers
started giving sea kelp, alfalfa cubes ground up in coffee grinder helped with the situation

 

[Dlrpn1]

I find layer feed today has only vegetable protein, soya etc and no animal protein does not contain enough protein, started supplementing with sea kelp, alfalfa cubes ground up and helped with aggression, no further feather picking!