Feather picking

[Hopeful homesteader]

My chickens are picking each others backs bare. At first I thought it was wear from mating so I got some saddles for the ones that were bare and then they turned to the others that weren't covered so I put one on all the pullets and now they've turned to the 2 cockerels so now everyone is bare backed. I've now taken off the saddles cause they are still picking under them and idk what to do. Will pinless peepers help stop this? I don't have space to isolate all of them separately since they are all doing it, can anyone give me advice please?

 

[nuthatched]

It could be from a few things:
How many chickens?
Not enough protein in their diet. What do they eat?
Not enough space. How big is their coop?
Chickens are jerks.

 

[Hopeful homesteader]

It could be from a few things:
How many chickens?
Not enough protein in their diet. What do they eat?
Not enough space. How big is their coop?
Chickens are jerks.

Coop is 4×10, run is 10x24. Total of 10 chickens. I normally feed them chick feed because all flock is not available here, it's 18% protein and crushed oyster shell is always out for the girls. This week we could only find layer pellets which is also 18% protein so I got that until they restocked, I know cockerels aren't supposed to eat it but I felt a week of it was better than starving. I don't think the change of food was the problem because they started this about a month ago. I have 2 large wooden spools in their run for climbing on and hiding behind etc. I thought maybe giving them more to interact with would distract them but I don't have many ideas left. If I toss out a vegetable they will stop but only until the vegetable is gone, they only get veggies maybe twice a month. Scratch I toss out a handful 2-3 times a week to keep them out from under my feet when I'm in refilling food, water, or cleaning and that's gone in less than 5 min. I try offering dried mealworms but they don't eat them. They were all raised together so no new members.

 

[Spanielkiss]

Sounds like they are being jerks then .
I have the same here . Lots of space and they are ruined in the food department lol . I tried hanging a cabbage from a tree in case they were bored and they are afraid of it . To me its become a habit . My local farmer says my Isa brown /red are the worst for this . When i replace them I plan to try sussex to see if they are different

 

[Hopeful homesteader]

Sounds like they are being jerks then .
I have the same here . Lots of space and they are ruined in the food department lol . I tried hanging a cabbage from a tree in case they were bored and they are afraid of it . To me its become a habit . My local farmer says my Isa brown /red are the worst for this . When i replace them I plan to try sussex to see if they are different

4 of mine are speckled sussex, the others are 3 Wyandottes, 1 of each blue orpington, dark brahma, and partridge rock. They're all plucking and none run away from it. This past weekend I hung a swing and turned the dirt in their run, I noticed the back end has a ton of crab grass roots that's grown in from the outside and they've spent every day since scratching at those roots and rolling in the dirt back there and a lot less picking on each other, I'm starting to see pin feathers coming in on their bald spots today and their skin looks less pink. Their dust bathing spot is like 3 feet from the back so just a few feet over and they could have struck gold lol. I also gave them 6 scrambled eggs on Sunday so Idk if that makes any difference, I think they're more occupied with the roots but I'm gonna keep giving eggs once a week while their feathers are growing in. Not sure how else to explain it but they all seem to be in a calmer more content mood since Sunday, especially the oldest cockerel. About a month or so ago he started acting aggressive all of a sudden and everyone just said it was his hormones but I'm starting to wonder if it was more stress? He doesn't care that I'm out here the last few days though I still don't trust him not to try and flog me, he's dancing for the girls again, the last month he stopped doing it and was just jumping on and I'm sure that was stressing out the girls so it appears now that he's relaxed, everyone is happy. Idk if this is all related but this is what I've noticed so far after minor changes, hopefully it lasts.