Hen loosing feathers around vent and back by tail - Help

[The Vargas Chics]

I have a Welsummer that is loosing her feathers around her vent and then right before her tail feathers on her back. I checked for mites etc and nothing. I suspect my other hen is plucking them out. Is this normal? I have another hen that had her feathers plucked out around her vent also, when she was having problems. Do hens actually pluck out the other ones feathers? Our run is 12 x 5 and the coop is 5 x 4 plus and we only have 4 chickens no roosters. I don't think they are crowded, but I was hoping to get 2 more, but if I have a problem I do not want to get anymore, until we figure out why and what we can do. My chickens are not quite 1 years old yet. Please give me any suggestions to help my girls. Thanks

 

[winekntrychicks]

I didn't think mine were crowded either. I guess it doesn't matter. They get bored. Especially if they run out of things to pick at. The only thing that works for me is to remove the perps. Some people give cat food, There is a remedy floating around out there about a cure with salt water. I read that black oil sunflower seeds helps; I have been giving the seeds. Too soon to tell if it's helping. Good Luck. I am going to follow your thread. If I come across anything that looks interesting; will post.

 

[4biddies]

if you do some searches you'll find all kinds of predicaments like this. Feather plucking is common, and is a serious problem. It could be any number of reasons, or a combination...if not space it may be boredom, particularly if you live in a cold area and they can't scratch in the winter, some theorize it's a lack of protien, but I personally think it's more likely space and/or boredom. Then once they do it, they realize it tastes kind of good, because feathers also have some blood in them.

Most people use some kind of deterant...blu kote, which is good for wounds, pine tar which is a thick paste you can put on the key spots and tastes bad to them, or something called Hot Pick which is a herbal spicy spray they supposdedly don't like. Most of this stuff is available at farm stores or online. Don't wait though, best to stop it early because it is habit forming, and also a learned behavior...others may join in. Also giving them a seed cake or hang a head of cabbage or anything to give them a better option. If you go w/ seed cakes, get a black oil sunflower one...high in protien. In a pinch put some vicks vapo on the spots...also tastes bad.

 

[sandyj]

Try hanging a head of lettuce from the ceiling of the coop on a rope. My friends chickens REALLY enjoy that. It gives them something to do. Sorry, I didn't read the last sentence in the last post about hanging cabbage. I btter get with the program! Huh?

sandyj

 

[winekntrychicks]

Quote:
I tried that remedy. The head of cabbage did not last 24 hours...not a good option for me.

 

[The Vargas Chics]

Wow, it took me this long to find time to get back on the web and check for your rememdies. I will try to get a spray and hang a cabbage/lettuce up. I appreciate all your input. I did take the one out the other day and let her help me in the garden. She is my favorite chicken and I don't want to give her away, but I now noticed she is doing it to the last one, so hope something will work. Thanks again.