Feather picking

[LeslieR]

I have a bantam Cochin mix hen that hatched two chicks about three weeks ago, she is now picking feathers out of the smallerone. should I remove her?

 

[aart]

I have a bantam Cochin mix hen that hatched two chicks about three weeks ago, she is now picking feathers out of the smallerone. should I remove her?

She may be weaning the chicks.
Tell us more about....
-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.

 

[LeslieR]

I have a mixed flock of 18 adult chickens. 1 rooster that is an Easter egger, 2 blue laced red Wyandotte’s, 1 black laced golden Wyandotte, 1 buff Orpington, 1 silkie/easter egger mix, 1 hamburg, 1 black sexlink, 1 red star, 4Rhode Island reds,4 Easter eggers, and the bantam Cochin. Then the two chicks that she hatched. They all live in a 10’x15’ metal Texas barn with a wood floor. I feed them layer pellets and crumble, cracked corn in the winter and scratch in the warmer months, then supplement meal worms and veggies on occasion. I don’t have many pictures at this time, but will take some in daylight.

 

[LeslieR]

There are 8 assorted nesting containers, their favorites are two plastic dog food buckets and a Home Depot 5 gallon bucket laid across the lower level of the roosting posts that span one side of the barn. The little Mama is in a brooder cage that is about 4’x4’ and a two foot height, with one of the two dog food buckets for them to nest in. They have food and water with electrolytes and probiotics. The food is chick food right now.

 

[aart]

So the broody and her chicks are confined to the cage?
I'd have opened the door to the crate after a week or two so broody can rejoined the flock and her and the chicks can still on into cage with nest to shelter.

 

[LeslieR]

Okay, that sounds easy enough.
Thank you aart!

 

[aart]

Okay, that sounds easy enough.
Thank you aart!

Well, be ready for some kerfluffles.
Broodies can have a hard time regaining their place in the flock, there may be fights between her and the other birds. The chicks are usually safe, especially if they are smart enough to go back in cage or find another place to 'hide'.

These integration tips might help shine some light on the dynamics.
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[LeslieR]

The link you added looks like a great way to work it out. My chickens free range and have places to hide around the area. Luckily I live in the country and don’t have to worry about neighbors opinions. There is an older coop that I started with eight years ago, that they sometimes spend time in. The older coop was great when I had less than a dozen birds. It has a built in run and coop that measures about 5’ wide and 16’ long. The coop itself is about 5’x 4’. Once I discovered that they were happier free ranging, I opted for that with a much larger coop. It is sitting on concrete blocks so that they can get under it away from the sun and rain. It is a work in progress. I had no idea eight years ago, when my Mother delivered 6 little rhode island red chicks, how much fun and addictive having chickens can be. My coworkers and patients I take care of also really enjoy the fresh eggs. My favorite part is watching the babies.

 

[LeslieR]

I also have several feeding stations inside and out of the coop, as well as watering stations.