Feather Pulling

[kaydeetee86]

Hello all. I hope you had a happy new year!

I really need some help, and I’m going to keep this as short as I can. I’m at my wits end with my flock. They have been pulling each other’s feathers for MONTHS. Most of my girls in the main coop have completely naked butts. Some are better, some are naked all the way around their tails.

These ladies were hatched in March 2020, and raised together.

The run is 10x10. I’m not sure what the coop dimensions are, but it’s good-sized. Four roosting bars. It’s rated for up to 14 chickens. I have 8, after moving 2. (12.5 sq ft per bird.)

I’ve seen the feather pulling. They have zero other signs/symptoms of anything else (parasites, etc.) Some of them are molting.

This is what I have tried:

- Removing my bullied Buff Orpingtons, and putting them in a different coop with two Lavenders. They’re doing great, feathers grew back. The other 8 seem happier.
- Removing the two biggest bullies for a few days, no change.
- Increasing feed from 16% layer feed to 20% all flock with oyster shells. Helpful at first, back to their antics now.
- Treats only right before bed, and sticking with high protein snacks like black sunflower seeds. Moderately helpful, same as the food change.
- Electrolytes/vitamins in water. I can’t tell if it made a difference.
- BluKote on the naked areas. Helpful until it wears off.
- I try to make sure they have activities to do. Stuff to jump on, plenty to scratch, a cabbage ball every so often.

I can’t safely let them free range, but will put together a chicken tractor when it gets to be nicer out. There are too many hawks and dogs, we’re close to a street, and we have 3-4 bodies of water, depending on rainfall/time of year.

Culling/rehoming isn’t an option for me. I love my girls. I can’t stand to see this. I’m worried about this leading up to worse behaviors, and somebody getting killed.

If anybody has some insight, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you so much.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Might need more space, both coop and run, but I'll focus on the run since you've provided measurements here. I know 10 sq ft in the run is considered the minimum recommendation, but IMO it often isn't enough and birds will pick on each other due to stress from confinement.

Since you tried separating out a few birds and things improved, that makes me hopeful that providing more space (and maybe more clutter along with that) could go a long way in improving things.

 

[springvalley123]

Since deleting birds is out, sounds like you'll need more space. In addition to more space, you could put hiding spaces for the lower-ranking birds to hide behind. Maybe a second feeder and waterer too. BTW the "rated for 14 birds" might not allow for the common minimum of 4 sq ft per bird, so maybe some of the feather pulling occurs at roost time?

 

[aart]

I’m not sure what the coop dimensions are, but it’s good-sized. Four roosting bars. It’s rated for up to 14 chickens.

Which could very well mean it's only enough space for less than half that.
Please measure the coop and take some pics of coop and run.

 

[kaydeetee86]

Which could very well mean it's only enough space for less than half that.
Please measure the coop and take some pics of coop and run.

Thank you. It’s this one: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/producers-pride-defender-chicken-coop-2020-1168239n. Coop is 47’’ x 55.7’’ x 73.2’’ according to the site. Run is 10x10.

I stand corrected, it says 10-12. (I wouldn’t ever put 12 in there.) My birds are average size: 4 Golden Comets, 3 RIRs, and a Barred Rock. The BR and one of the comets are the bullies.

I’m tapped out on coop buying right now. We have 3 - this one, the Orpington coop, and a bachelor pad with my two ACs. I can do plenty of vertical expansion, hiding places and more toys, though. Do you have any recommendations?

 

[kaydeetee86]

Since deleting birds is out, sounds like you'll need more space. In addition to more space, you could put hiding spaces for the lower-ranking birds to hide behind. Maybe a second feeder and waterer too. BTW the "rated for 14 birds" might not allow for the common minimum of 4 sq ft per bird, so maybe some of the feather pulling occurs at roost time?

Thank you. I think that roost time is when most of it occurs.

I have two feeders and two waterers. Adding the second ones seemed to bring a little bit more peace to the flock.

 

[kaydeetee86]

Might need more space, both coop and run, but I'll focus on the run since you've provided measurements here. I know 10 sq ft in the run is considered the minimum recommendation, but IMO it often isn't enough and birds will pick on each other due to stress from confinement.

Since you tried separating out a few birds and things improved, that makes me hopeful that providing more space (and maybe more clutter along with that) could go a long way in improving things.

Thank you. I really hope so. One of the goals is extending the run, but I can expand vertically without a problem for now.

 

[springvalley123]

Thank you. It’s this one: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/producers-pride-defender-chicken-coop-2020-1168239n. Coop is 47’’ x 55.7’’ x 73.2’’ according to the site. Run is 10x10.

I stand corrected, it says 10-12. (I wouldn’t ever put 12 in there.) My birds are average size: 4 Golden Comets, 3 RIRs, and a Barred Rock. The BR and one of the comets are the bullies.

I’m tapped out on coop buying right now. We have 3 - this one, the Orpington coop, and a bachelor pad with my two ACs. I can do plenty of vertical expansion, hiding places and more toys, though. Do you have any recommendations?

a standard metal or plastic garbage can would enable birds to hide behind it, and hop on it to roost. Maybe a metal one that you use for their food? get dual use out of it? I also have two smaller, 10-20 gallon cans--they hold oyster shells or spare things like treats. smaller birds can hide behind them and perch on them. If you have pallets laying around, you can lean them against the wall of the pen and even bungee/tie it there in case a wind comes up, to prevent them from falling onto the birds during a strong wind, if that's a concern.

 

[aart]

Coop is 47’’ x 55.7’’ x 73.2’’ according to the site.

Guessing one of thee include the nests(and storage underneath nests) so doesn't really count for coop space.
Also wonders if birds use upper roosts, might be hard to get and especially down.

 

[kaydeetee86]

Guessing one of thee include the nests(and storage underneath nests) so doesn't really count for coop space.
Also wonders if birds use upper roosts, might be hard to get and especially down.

I’m absolutely terrible at measurements and such. They like the upper roosting bars. The girls who are higher on the pecking order sleep up there.