Help: losing feathers and skin turning blue? UPDATED

[clickchicks]

Update to this. Any suggestions?

So I went to check on my other two hens and low and behold, the chicken who was plucking at this one was now picking at the feathers of my other chicken. So for sure, without a doubt, this was caused by a deviant hen.

I'm going to look for some enrichment things to add to their run like MysteryChicken suggested, but should I consider changing their food? I've read feather picking can sometimes be a dietary thing. Right now they are on an 18% grower with free choice calcium.

For now the deviant hen is in a separate pen within the run where she can see the others but not get to them and the plucked girl is back out with her flockmate.

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

More protien, feathers have protien and plucking them/eating them means then need it.

 

[clickchicks]

I made some adjustments today. The bully is still sectioned off from the others but I made a few treat toys out of old bottles and got a new, higher protein food to try. Put it the treat bottle for now so they get used to it, so far they like it.

But I'm a little worried. I asked my SO to help get a video of the bullied chicken. The bruising is much more extensive than I first thought, and goes further down below the feathers.

Are we still thinking this is just bruising? It seems like a strange place for another chicken to be able to bruise:

edit:

 

[casportpony]

(sorry, it wont let me imbed it)

upload to YouTube or Vimeo then copy and paste the link here

 

[clickchicks]

upload to YouTube or Vimeo then copy and paste the link here

I don't have an account for either but I'll try. Does the posted link work at all? I can't really tell, I'm able to view it but that may be because I'm logged into that account.

 

[casportpony]

I don't have an account for either but I'll try. Does the posted link work at all? I can't really tell, I'm able to view it but that may be because I'm logged into that account.

It does work, and it does look like a bruise.

 

[clickchicks]

It does work, and it does look like a bruise.

Thank you.

Guess I did have a youtube account, so I went ahead and uploaded it there and imbedded the video.

 

[casportpony]

Thank you.

Guess I did have a youtube account, so I went ahead and uploaded it there and imbedded the video.

It's set to private. Can you change that?

 

[clickchicks]

It's set to private. Can you change that?

Oof, sorry. I thought I could still share while on private but still not be searchable. I guess unlisted is what I was looking for. Its updated.

 

[LaFleche]

should I consider changing their food? I've read feather picking can sometimes be a dietary thing. Right now they are on an 18% grower with free choice calcium.

If the 18% grower feed contains only vegetable protein (peas or soy beans), your chickens might be lacking amino acids provided by animal protein which is even more important when moulting or during winter.