Hen getting picked on

[bldmtnrider]

I have a single Easter Egger that looks like she has been getting picked on. All but one of her tail feathers is missing and her back feathers are missing about 3" up from her tail.

I've got her in isolation right now until she heals but have a few questions.

How long does it take them to grow their back feathers in after a bullying episode?

Do I need to supplement her diet/water with anything?

What is the best way to re-introduce her to the other birds?

Any idea on how to prevent this from happening in the future?

I have 4 barred rocks and 2 easter eggers, all about 3.5 months old. Bought them all the same day so they have been together their entire life. My coop is 25 square feet with a 50 sq foot run so I don't think they were getting cooped up. Plenty of food and water.

Thanks

 

[dawg53]

Quote:
Sounds like a pecking order issue to me. You need to find out who the bully(s) is/are and seperate them in seperate cages or crates for about 3 or 4 days, then reintroduce them into your flock. That should knock them down a notch or two in the pecking order and their bullying will stop. Just make sure you have your EE hen out with the rest of the flock before you reintroduce the bully(s). Your EE's feathers most likely wont regrow til after she molts...sorry. If the same bully's start bullying again, increase their crate/cage time to 12 days, then release them again. Dont forget to provide them feed and water while they're seperated.

 

[taprock]

I'm not sure there is any way to keep her from getting picked on. It takes a while for feathers to grow back. The longer she is out of the coop the harder it is for her to go back. Put her in at night when everyone is on the roost. If you can find out who is picking on her take them out for a day or two instead to change the pecking order.

 

[bldmtnrider]

After some digging around on here there are some sugestions that increasing their protien may help. I did start giving them some scratch about a week ago and wondering if that has supplemented there diet in the wrong way.

Has anyone else had luck with additional protien or is this just part of having chickens?

If I do need to add protien, what is the best way to do that?

Thanks again.

 

[dawg53]

Quote:
It's ok to give them scratch once in awhile as a treat only. Scratch is low in protein too. You can give them gamebird feed which is about 22% protein, scrambled eggs are good as well. Dont expect feather regrowth overnight, you're still looking at feather regrowth after molt.

 

[Celtic Chick]

Do you have a cage that you can put her in that will fit in their coop? That is what I do when I need to separate one that isn't sick. That way you don't have to worry so much about reintegration.
For increasing their protein, I have read that fish (tuna) is a good source. Or cooked soybeans. Chickens are omnivores, so they will eat pretty much anything. Mine go crazy pecking scraps off a ham bone. Cooked eggs are excellent too.
Link to good chicken protein sources:
http://www.lionsgrip.com/protein.html