Hen Eating Other Hens Feathers

[Skylar Bishop]

My EE Hen has been eating the others hens feathers, I have heard that it's linked to a protein deficiency. If it is a protein deficiency, what can I feed her?
I need something light on her crop, as hers is stretched.

 

[Robert G]

Mine had started to do the same and thanks to other members on here, they informed me it was a protein issue. I went to my local feed store and got them something called "meat builder" and "game fowl" feed which had lots of protein in them and they stopped eating feathers. I was also told if you don't catch it early it could become habit and won't stop eating feathers as well. I'm not an expert, just sharing what worked for my flock.

 

[Percheron chick]

Cat food, meat, soy bean meal, mealworms, canned mackerel.
Cut back on veggies and scratch too. They easily drop the overall protein content

 

[RWise]

I picked up 2 pullets that were doing this, I feed plenty of protein here. Once through quarantine and in the yard, one of them walks up to the big boy, pulls a feather and he exploded on her. No more pulling feathers from him, next was my oldest biggest hen, not only did she explode all over the pullet, but chased her around for a bit. These girls no longer pull feathers from any other bird.

 

[Skylar Bishop]

Thank you, I'll try these and see if they work.