Feather Picking

[tawirth604]

Hi, BYC! I’ve been dealing with feather picking since end of December, and I’m at a loss of what to do. I put pinless peepers on the two hens that started this epidemic, but now other ones are doing it. Unfortunately I’m unable to free range them due to predators and roaming dogs. We are planning on fencing in a secure chicken yard soon. They have enough space, and I give treats occasionally. They have dust baths. I know some suggest culling, but I don’t want to do that. I’m monitoring the situation very closely. Any other suggestions??

 

[EggSighted4Life]

One possibility...

Maybe changing roost height. Do you know when the pecking is taking place?

 

[tawirth604]

Tried it. Lol. I put out a flock block this morning. Hoping that helps. ‍

One possibility...

Maybe changing roost height. Do you know when the pecking is taking place?

 

[rosemarythyme]

How much space is "enough space?"

And what's in their run other than a dust bath? Being in a run isn't a problem, keeping them busy inside one can be.

 

[tawirth604]

How much space is "enough space?"

And what's in their run other than a dust bath? Being in a run isn't a problem, keeping them busy inside one can be.

They have 10 square feet per bird inside the run. They also have hanging toys and a flock block.

 

[tawirth604]

One possibility...

Maybe changing roost height. Do you know when the pecking is taking place?

Sorry. I forgot to mention that the pecking seems to happen any time of day. I try to keep them busy as best as I can. We’re planning on putting in a secure chicken run as well.

 

[chickens really]

 

[aart]

They have 10 square feet per bird inside the run.

The 4/10 'rule' is a minimum and often is not enough space.

Need more info:
-your flock size(numbers, ages, genders),
-your coop(size in feet by feet with pics),
-and what and how exactly you are feeding,
might offer clues to if there is a solvable problem

 

[Ebony Rose]

In addition to all of the good advice previously posted, consider nutritional deficiency as a possible cause.
Feed split pea & rice (mine prefer their peas cooked as they're bitter when raw) as a treat. This provides a boost in lysine and methionine, both crucial 'feather' amino acids, which could be low in their feed. Beans can be substituted for peas for methionine, but beans must be cooked (they contain poisonous stuff when served raw) where peas merely taste better when cooked but not mandatory. Peas are a complete protein, beans are not, 'complete' meaning that their protein contains ALL of the essential amino acids. I'm sure there are other alternative supplements out there, but rice & peas are cheap here, so that's what I use. I don't know about where you are, but in my country, Panama, the feed store offerings don't anticipate a bird living past a year, as *most* end up on the table for meat; even layers after a few months worth of eggs. So... they don't pay attention to TRUE daily nutritional needs; Their goal is to get your bird up to and including one year of life. Period.
A head of cabbage hung up is often a fun treat and also contains lysine (and a number of other essential amino acids). Seeds & nuts too. Meat too. Treats fed at 10% or less for overall food consumed, doesn't have to be boring to be good for your flock I'm certain that others will chime in with more ideas on what could be causing the problem and how to resolve it too. So many things *can* cause this behavior, the trick is finding out what's causing it in YOUR flock. Feather picking is extremely hard to stop once started, so I'm hoping you are nipping this habit in the bud.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

This provides a boost in lysine and methionine, both crucial 'feather' amino acids, which could be low in their feed. Beans can be substituted for peas for methionine,

Peas average around 22% protein.

Since feather picking is often blamed on protein I researched this.. to discover that feathers themselves only contain about 2% digestible protein in the form of keratin.

But you bring up an interesting point, in that when "higher" protein content is suggested it also may include higher amount of amino acids even though people don't realize it.

It's my understanding that chickens NEED the amino acids in animal protein and they are not found in plant form but added into our mostly vegetarian rations here in the US. So I have not YET verified your claim that peas are complete protein, noting that people and chickens don't carry the same requirements for amino acids (though I suspect you already know that, as you seem fairly bright).

I was just thinking I would love to see the nutritional content on crickets, after watching a video on here last night and the crickets were much more entertaining (challenging enrichment) than meal worms for the chicks.

Sorry that pic (no more) I posted was so large, who knew.

One issue could be the breeds.. Some breeds simply don't do well in confinement. More often than not... the problem is boredom and behavioral...

Do you happen to have deep litter? That might help if not.