Help! One of my chicks is pulling feathers!

[StevieChicks]

Hi everyone! I'm hoping for some quick advice on how to nip this in the bud!

I have 12 chicks (pullets). There are 6 easter eggers, 3 barred rocks and 3 austalorps. They will be three weeks old on Sunday. I am using a red lamp, they are on chick starter and they have plenty of room. The brooder is a 3 x 4 x 3 range box. They've all been getting along famously so far and seem to be very happy and healthy, doing lots of chickeny things like scratching, dust bathing and roosting. They are growing really well and I've not detected any problems with them so far - until today. One of the australorps has started pulling feathers from the other chicks and it doesn't matter who. She's not picking on anyone in particular, no one is exempt from her pulling. She'll pull until she gets a feather out and then run around as if she's caught a worm or something. Since they are still young, I'd like to nip this behavior in the bud if I can before it spreads to the rest of them. I've done a search for feather pulling, but it seems the advice is for older birds. Is this just something she's doing because she's young or is it a bad habit in the making?

Please help!

 

[RoseMarie1]

I'd separate the puller from the others until someone came on here and gave me some info. I've never raised chicks but have raised many ducks. I have been reading and reading some more on raising chicks and have read about them doing this and they get the blood off the feather is why they are doing this if I am remembering right. But like I said I would separate that one from the others until I found out what to do before this one really gets addicted to this. HOPING someone that knows something comes on here soon and answers your question. If not I would google and see what I could find on the subject as well since I noticed it's been 10 hours ago since you posted this.


found this.... https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/413133/chickens-pulling-out-others-feathers

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/145211/chicken-plucking-other-chickens-feathers

 

[missnu01]

Hmmm... The brooder is big enough, but is it possible they are too warm? That can sometimes cause the same issues as being too cramped... And what percent protein are you feeding? If your house is 70 degrees then you only need the light to be adding 10 degrees tops, and those lights add way more than 10... They add 10 degrees 3 feet up or more, so perhaps swap out to a lower wattage light maybe unless they are outside in like 30 degree weather...we have chicks and ducks outside in a building with the red lights and when it was 18 degrees outside it was 87 under the light suspended 2 feet above the ground... So.... 250w is a lot. Same I'm using, but I have them plugged into a dimmer switch

 

[countrygirl74]

X2 on the temps

Also, you can try time-outs with her. Every time you see here pulling feathers, pull her out of the brooder and set her by herself in a separate little box or something. Don't make the time-outs too long so she gets chilled. Sometimes this can break a behavior and within a couple days she might be fine. I've never had a feather puller like that but I have had one who would incessantly pick on everyone's feet and literally drag them clear across the brooder by their toes - little booger.

Another option is to try giving her a little extra protein - Like a mashed up hardboiled egg yolk. Maybe she feels deficient in some nutrient...

Have you been able to take them outside yet? Sometimes they just get bored in the brooder. Maybe give them some outside playtime a couple times a day or add a scoop of dirt from outside for them to play and mess with in the brooder.

 

[missnu01]

Sand is a good chick distracter too. Leaves.. Anything you can give them that is safe and they haven't seen before. Or if you are using hay, use shavings next time or vice versa.. Just give them something new they aren't used to. Scatter sunflower seeds and chick grit around the brooder... Toss in a few strawberries... Some chicks just need more stimulation...

 

[Mattemma]

We had aN EE like that.We named her Pluckers. Started it in her teen time.She outgrew it. I never had to seperate her,but I would have if she did any serious plucking. Some say extra protien will help like BOSS.

 

[missnu01]

I had my chicks overcrowded for a couple weeks but they did alright because I give treats pretty often. It has made it so the chickens all see me as the bringer of food. Lol. So when I "chick, chick, chick" they all come running already.