Hen eating feathers

[Bree99]

I recently moved my bantam Cochin flock into our big coop, it’s about the size of a large shed with a large fenced in area, we have 4 large laying hens in there as well. Well, one of my Cochin hens is relentlessly picking the feathers out of another Cochin hen, her sister that I bought her with, she does not do this to any of the other chickens though. Just that certain one. This hen has been newly incorporated from regrowing her feathers in but she was separated for not even a month and they’re with four other new chickens. What could be causing this?

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

What protein percentage are you feeding? How many chickens do you have? How big is the coop?

 

[Bree99]

What protein percentage are you feeding? How many chickens do you have? How big is the coop?

I’m feeding a mixture of cracked corn, layer crumbles and layer pellets with the occasional scraps. There’s 8 chickens in the coop and our coop is really big. We built it ourselves but I’m not sure of the measurements. It’s easily the size of two large sheds.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

Remove the corn from their feed, it’s empty calories and reduces the protein. Switch to an all flock of at least 18% protein. They are feather eating because of the lack of protein in their diet.

 

[Bree99]

I just bought a brand new bag and mixed it all in together should I go buy another bag of layer crumbles? It’s just the one hen picking feathers from that one certain hen. The others aren’t doing it.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

I just bought a brand new bag and mixed it all in together should I go buy another bag of layer crumbles?

I wouldn’t buy layer unless you can get it like I do, from a grainery where I get 20% protein. 16% is what store bought layer protein is. You need more protein. No more corn.

 

[Bree99]

I wouldn’t buy layer unless you can get it like I do, from a grainery where I get 20% protein. 16% is what store bought layer protein is. You need more protein. No more corn.

Any reason for it to be just the one hen doing it? And for her to just be going after a certain one?

 

[adstowe]

It’s entirely possible it’s a behavioral issue and not related to your feed, but for reference - Most layer feed is only 16% which isn’t ideal. It also have a lot of calcium that is excessive for your non-laying birds. I use 20% all flock or 20% game/show finisher (depending on which store I get it from) with oyster shell on the side.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

Any reason for it to be just the one hen doing it? And for her to just be going after a certain one?

Could be behavioral but more than likely it’s lack or protein.

 

[adstowe]

You said that one had been recently reintegrated. That is likely your problem.
Edit: also, how may birds total do you have in this “large shed”? Space issues can cause problems.