Feathers all picked out

[newtochickens78]

I have one rooster and 4 hens. All “Easter eggers” one of the hens has nearly all her feathers missing. I have noticed two of the other hens peck and eat the feathers off of her. I tried stop pick, and locking up the offending hens for a short period but nothing is helping. Otherswise she appears healthy and is still laying! I can’t find any sign of notes or bugs on her at all. They will be 1 year old in April.

 

[Eggcessive]

This type of feather eating is caused by several possible things, such as too little protein in the diet, overcrowding, boredom from not getting out to free range, bullies, too much light in the coop, and others. If you can identify the bully, you can get some pinless peepers to put on her so that she cannot see her victim.

What are you feeding them? Feeding a good balanced all flock or layer feed as 90% of their food is best. All flock or flock raiser is best at 20% protein. Layer has 16% and is the minimum. Most hens need a minimum of 4 square feet of room inside the coop, but they need much more than that in the run, or to get out and roam and peck at grass and bugs.

The bald chicken might need a hen saddle for awhile until her feathers grow back. Some may not regrow feathers until the first big molt, around 18 months old. Here is some reading:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/pinless-peepers-work.480929/
https://poultry.extension.org/artic...ibalism-in-small-and-backyard-poultry-flocks/

 

[OneMountainAcres]

First, welcome to BYC!! Eggcessive gave you some excellent info and advice. If you decide that you would like a hen saddle for your bald lady, please send me a pm. I make them.

 

[newtochickens78]

This type of feather eating is caused by several possible things, such as too little protein in the diet, overcrowding, boredom from not getting out to free range, bullies, too much light in the coop, and others. If you can identify the bully, you can get some pinless peepers to put on her so that she cannot see her victim.

What are you feeding them? Feeding a good balanced all flock or layer feed as 90% of their food is best. All flock or flock raiser is best at 20% protein. Layer has 16% and is the minimum. Most hens need a minimum of 4 square feet of room inside the coop, but they need much more than that in the run, or to get out and roam and peck at grass and bugs.

The bald chicken might need a hen saddle for awhile until her feathers grow back. Some may not regrow feathers until the first big molt, around 18 months old. Here is some reading:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/pinless-peepers-work.480929/
https://poultry.extension.org/artic...ibalism-in-small-and-backyard-poultry-flocks/

Thanks so much for the suggestion. The pinless blinders are working and it appears her feathers are growing back

 

[Tierra Bonaldi]

First, welcome to BYC!! Eggcessive gave you some excellent info and advice. If you decide that you would like a hen saddle for your bald lady, please send me a pm. I make them.

View attachment 2055127

I have one hen getting all her feathers picked out. I'd like a hen saddle. She's little. I'm new and don't know how to PM on this platform.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

I have one hen getting all her feathers picked out. I'd like a hen saddle. She's little. I'm new and don't know how to PM on this platform.

I sent you a pm. There should be something at the top of your page that looks like an envelope. That's where you access your PMs

 

[Eggcessive]

You can make a one piece no-sew hen saddle out of a piece of polar fleece. Cut 2 slits for the wings. The wings hold it in place. Start with a 5x7 inch piece of fleece, and go from there. The wings slits are about 1 inch for a bantam. After you put it on, you can trim it to size. There are commercial hen saddles as well from hensavers.com

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

First, welcome to BYC!! Eggcessive gave you some excellent info and advice. If you decide that you would like a hen saddle for your bald lady, please send me a pm. I make them.

View attachment 2055127

I have bought several from you! So happy to find you here, Jessica!

 

[OneMountainAcres]

I have bought several from you! So happy to find you here, Jessica!

Hi! How are your saddles holding up? I feel certain I've seen you around on here over the years I wasn't always OneMountainAcres on here though lol

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Hi! How are your saddles holding up? I feel certain I've seen you around on here over the years I wasn't always OneMountainAcres on here though lol

I LOVE them! . And my 3 hens have responded very well to them. My rooster thinks they’re cute, too!