Feather picking

[Moxiechick]

I've been having this problem for a few weeks and only today have noticed a little improvement. Some have bare patches at the base of their tails, some bare bums, and 2 have both! A couple have also had open sores. 5 have bare spots. 2 haven't been touched (one of these is the main picker, the other I have never seen pick at all), and 1 has a few feathers broken off at the half way point in front of her tail, but no bare patches.

Here is what I have tried so far-

Adding protein - I've giving them BOSS, yogurt, scrambled eggs, and occasionally dog or cat kibble mixed in with warm oatmeal.

Treatments - Blue Kote and just recently, Ichthammol salve.

Giving them added stimulation - I've added a block of "Pecker Wrecker", give them caged cabbage occasionally. But by far, the best thing has been a bale of hay added to the run! I sprinkled BOSS and scratch on the bale and within days, they had it all torn apart and fluffed up. It is like having grass again in that they have to actually search for the treats instead of just having everything pecked off the snow within minutes. They spend all day scratching around in it. When it snows, I rake it into a corner and cover it with a tarp until we get the run clear, then I spread it out again. I just added a new, second bale as well, to add to the first plus while still in a bale, it provides areas for the hens to get away from each other.

We also have placed an order for some hen aprons, and pinless peepers. I'm not crazy about using the peepers, but I'm even less crazy about picked birds! It seems to be one hen doing most of the picking, with 3 others sometimes joining in. (The 3 others are missing feathers themselves!) Today, when I went to apply Blue Kote, I happily noticed that the girls with the sores seemed to be healing. The picking seems to have suddenly slowed down as well. Hopefully this is a sign that things are on the upswing!

I think the hay bales have really been helpful with the boredom.

 

[creative.hortic]

I lucked out by finding this thread! I had bloody chickens last week and i was afraid one would have been pecked to death. I took the bully out(the only one with all her feathers!) and she is on time out in the garage. the other girls are healing and look terrible. The lady at the feed store told me to up their protein and gave me some pork and bone...Anyone familiar with it? I bought ygurt and oatmeal especially for the chickens and my kids are pretty put out about this! But what i havent tried is a cabbage or other "toy". Will do that right away and see what happens. It is cold here and the bare skin of my girls is really pink and dry....hope they grow new feathers quick!

 

[True Grit]

I have the one guilty party in jail in the garage. I think it's harder on me than her, I feel so sorry for her. I upped her mealworm ration. I've never heard of pork and bone. What is it? This morning when I went out to the run there were two feathers on the ground so perhaps my top girl is a pecker too.

I sure hope not. I'm going to get the pine tar gritsar mentioned for when I put the picker back in the run. I'll throw some new hay or straw and a bunch of mealworms in there too. If I had a chicken cam I could find out when most of the picking occurs. I have a suspicion its occuring in the coop rather than the run. Frustrating.

 

[Mudcat]

Glad I found this thread. I'm having the same issue for the first time. Last night, I separated 2 bare-butted chickens and several more are bare-necked. If I understand correctly, it seems the causes are, lack of protein and boredom. I've begun working on both issues. Not sure where I can find pine tar, though.

Thanks!
Mudcat

 

[7L Farm]

Quote:
TSC has pine tar!!

 

[Mudcat]

Thx! Will go get some pine tar, this evening. I'll let y'all know how it works out.

--Mudcat

 

[Mattemma]

I am having the same problem tone hen is practically bald on her head. I took my two RSL hens out of the shed,and put them into the dog cage in the garage.Hoping the EE's are not attacking each other.Going to try the fish. I already give snacks in the shed and run when they are out.Thank goodness it is warming up,so I can be outside longer with them.

 

[sookiesmom]

Add me to the list.......Have a bantam silkie and bantam slw. Got the slw last August. They've been fine up til about a week or two ago. The slw is relentless in pecking the poor Silkie. When I saw this happening I remember reading about boredom and protein. Although they don't free range, they're little and we have hawks & would break my heart, I do let them out quite often. I bring them in the woods for earthworms, grubs. I buy them mealworms and megaworms. I spoil these two. But the slw is being such a B****! As soon as the slw is out with the silkie, the silkie makes this sad chirping noise and keeps putting her head down waiting to be attacked. I can't take it. I'm not gonna let it get to the point of blood. I just can't. I know it may sound crazy but I'm wondering if the slw is crazy herself. She's always been kinda aggressive. Not to me or silkie, but wen she eats she scoops the seed out like a madwoman and it's all over the floor. When I bring them worms, she goes a little nuts and practically takes my finger off. I'm trying to find her a home, does anybody think it could just be personality? Have had mixed chickens together, even roosters, and never had this problem. Thanks in advance!!!!
Natasha

 

[creative.hortic]

i know this sounds terrible, but i am glad im not the only one going thru this! I was beginning to think i was doing something wrong!!

 

[True Grit]

It's very disheartening. When I put the picker back in the run tonight, only the alpha hen challenged her. The third in command pecked the two lowest ones but she is the cross beak so she can't pull feathers. The two lowest, one of whom was just a beautiful supermodel of a white EE, kept their eye on her and backed away immediately. Looks like I'm going to have to remove her again.