Feather Picking

[azygous]

Bare skin is why we keep Blue-kote around. It's a topical wound treatment that has gentian violet in it. This stuff is a perfect camouflage for bare skin. It stains like crazy and won't easily wear off, so it allows new feathers to grow back without being "harvested" by other chickens.

 

[aart]

I’m thinking this started when the other bird was actually molting. She lost her neck feathers a month or so ago, and I thought it odd that they weren’t growing back. So I think the issue has been the other hen picking them out as they were growing in. They seem to have a thing for bare skin, making that chicken a target.

I am betting that if she grew in those feathers, the picking would stop.

They like those blood feathers and never forget where there may be some, no matter what color you spray on them.

Maybe try giving them some animal protein...and....
....cluttering up the run for diversions.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[vantain]

Bare skin is why we keep Blue-kote around. It's a topical wound treatment that has gentian violet in it. This stuff is a perfect camouflage for bare skin. It stains like crazy and won't easily wear off, so it allows new feathers to grow back without being "harvested" by other chickens.

I have blu-coat. Couldn’t hurt to try I guess.

 

[vantain]

I’ll try to get a good picture of the affected hen later today. She HATES being held though, so it will be a challenge.

 

[azygous]

Wear a raincoat and rubber gloves when applying Blu-kote to an uncooperative chicken or you will end up being the Purple People Eater.

 

[Folly's place]

What breeds do you have? All things being equal, I found that production reds, including hatchery RIRs, are terrible pecking beasts, and no longer have them in my flock. Any bird might do this, and more diversions may help too.
Good luck,
Mary

 

[50-45-1]

pinless peepers will stop your feather picker immediately.
i purchased mine off amazon for about #13.00, including the tool to put them on. my daughter helped me by holding the bird while i put them on.
my feather picker wore the blinders for about 6 weeks. i took them off her and she forgot about feather picking.
you may have more trouble if your chickens are confined closely. boredom sometimes starts the habit.
i also find that the "Red" breeds tend to be more prone to it. mine was a production red.

 

[vantain]

What breeds do you have? All things being equal, I found that production reds, including hatchery RIRs, are terrible pecking beasts, and no longer have them in my flock. Any bird might do this, and more diversions may help too.
Good luck,
Mary

ISA Browns. They are sweet birds, but I will not get them again. They are my first flock, so I guess they were good for starting out.

 

[vantain]

pinless peepers will stop your feather picker immediately.
i purchased mine off amazon for about #13.00, including the tool to put them on. my daughter helped me by holding the bird while i put them on.
my feather picker wore the blinders for about 6 weeks. i took them off her and she forgot about feather picking.
you may have more trouble if your chickens are confined closely. boredom sometimes starts the habit.
i also find that the "Red" breeds tend to be more prone to it. mine was a production red.

I keep reading horror stories of pinless peepers hurting the chickens, where the pins end up destroying their nasal canal...is that true?

Also, I use a heated horizontal nipple waterer, and I was worried they might prevent the chicken from being able peck at the nipple.

 

[azygous]

I've been using pinless peepers for a decade, and never had a problem with injury to the nares until last year. Two hens with severe picking issues wore them for an extended period, up to six months. I do not recommend extended use after one hen had swelling and was unable to breathe through her nares until after a week of treatment with terramycin ointment and debriding of her clogged nares. One nare still is closed from scar tissue, but she can breathe okay with her other one.

What I suggest is using the peepers on a hen for three or four weeks and then removing them. There's a good chance the peepers have changed her attitude about picking feathers. If she goes back to picking after a few weeks, then put them pack on after the nares have had a chance to heal from any irritation.