Feather picking

[karint]

I have one girl who is getting her neck feathers picked out. She’s ameraucana and it’s just her poofy neck and cheek feathers. No one else is getting feathers pulled. They have lots of boredom busters on days they are stuck in the barn cause it’s to cold and lots of room. Is there any diy of stuff I can put on her till I make it to the city to find something at the store. Also any other suggestions are welcome.

Picture of one of her eggs for attention.

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

How much protein is in their feed?
How much space do they have?

 

[karint]

They have lots of space both inside and out. Way more then the recommended so I don’t think it’s that.

Their normal layer ration is 17% but I supplement in winter with 21% chick starter every other day.

I’m not worried about space but do you think I should give them the 21% more often

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

They have lots of space both inside and out. Way more then the recommended so I don’t think it’s that.

Their normal layer ration is 17% but I supplement in winter with 21% chick starter every other day.

I’m not worried about space but do you think I should give them the 21% more often

I dont think so, 21% is quite a lot of protein.
Do you have roosters?

 

[karint]

I dont think so, 21% is quite a lot of protein.
Do you have roosters?

Yes. But it’s under her neck so I can’t imagine it’s from breeding or could I be wrong?

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

Yes. But it’s under her neck so I can’t imagine it’s from breeding or could I be wrong?

Could we see a picture?

 

[karint]

Could we see a picture?

Yep I’ll be home in an hour then I’ll grab one.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Unfortunately this is common and I don't know of a solution other than to provide plenty of space and things to do. I think it mostly happens on the roost so a long roost might help. I've had a few Easter Eggers lose their beards to picking. I know chickens clean each others' faces and I wonder if they pick the beard because they think it's not supposed to be there. I know crested breeds are often feather picked as well. I have not done anything about it in the past and their beards grew back.

 

[karint]

Unfortunately this is common and I don't know of a solution other than to provide plenty of space and things to do. I think it mostly happens on the roost so a long roost might help. I've had a few Easter Eggers lose their beards to picking. I know chickens clean each others' faces and I wonder if they pick the beard because they think it's not supposed to be there. I know crested breeds are often feather picked as well. I have not done anything about it in the past and their beards grew back.

That makes sense. She is my only ameraucana or poofy cheek hen for that matter and out of all my girls she is the only one with any missing feathers.

 

[FrostRanger]

They have lots of space both inside and out. Way more then the recommended so I don’t think it’s that.

Their normal layer ration is 17% but I supplement in winter with 21% chick starter every other day.

I’m not worried about space but do you think I should give them the 21% more often

I would just feed the starter and offer oyster shell on the side, most birds don't lay very much on winter so they don't need the extra calcium in layer feed rn and too much calcium is bad for their health

Perhaps hang a cabbage up for them? That might give them something else to pick at. I think there are also products you can apply to make her feathers taste bitter (pick no more I think is one?), how effective they are varies though