Feather plucking and possible nutrition deficiency

[cranberrycreekchickens]

Hi, I have a coop containing 15 black australorps, 1 rooster and 14 hens. the problem is that they seem to have most of their feathers either gone or broken, it would seem that there is a feather picking problem, the other problem is that the feathers don't seem to ever come back, there is the odd quills coming in but they still look the same as they did months ago. Whats the problem and what can I do?

Roman.

 

[Wynette]

Hi, Roman! The most common cause of feather plucking is overcrowding. When they are overcrowded, they become bored and begin to pluck. Unfortuantley, it can become a bad habit. I have read that it can also be tied to a protein deficiency IF they are plucking and eating the feathers. If you think this could be the case, you can throw in a few handfulls of dry catfood; I would do this twice daily for 3 days for the number you have, and then go every other day for a few days. If you see things improving, then that was most likely the problem.

I throw in a handfull of dry catfood to each of my pens about once or twice a month, just to be sure. They seem to enjoy it as a treat, and a little won't hurt them; however, too much can cause issues, too, so you don't really want to make it a daily or weekly routine.

 

[cranberrycreekchickens]

Thanks Wynette, I don't really suspect that it could be boredom because they free range every day, so maybe protein is the problem, I will try the cat food.

 

[patandchickens]

First, you're sure this is not just "over-roostering" damage? Is the feather loss *everywhere*, or just on the hens' back/head/upper neck? If that's what it is (and even with 15 hens to 1 rooster, it can certainly happen, with a less-than-graceful rooster or one with certain favorite hens) your only solutions are probably to limit the rooster's time with the hens, or apply saddles to the barebacked individuals.

If it *is* feather plucking, i.e includes tailfeathers and feathers on surfaces that the roo does not come in contact with during mating, then I'd suggest your best bet is a threefold approach: provide a lot more space per chicken (either by increasing run/coop space, or reducing number of chickens), give them something constructive to peck at and sort thru to occupy their time (like a whole buncha produce scraps, or some scratch tossed amongst a pile of straw), and temporarily 'up' their protein (options include black oil sunflower seeds, preferably hullless; cooked meat scraps; catfood, although there are some questions about its appropriateness especially if used in large amounts or longterm; or anything else that will boost protein in an amino-acid-balanced way)

Good luck,

Pat

 

[cranberrycreekchickens]

Thanks pat, I'm sure its not anything to do with the rooster because feathers are missing everywhere on the hens and the rooster has too lost some feathers, I separated the rooster for about a month to see if he was the problem but I noticed no difference. They have a reasonable space to live in and are free ranging everyday. I am going to give a few hens away to a friend so we will see if that may help, and otherwise I have started to give them extra protein in the form of turkey grower and dry cat food.

Roman.