Hen pecking other hens and roos feathers, not aggressive

[PoppySeedy]

Idk what her obsession is but my cuckoo maran tends to just peck at all the other chickens feathers, she never draws blood or does it aggressively, she just does it? Could she be bored? What should I do?

 

[sourland]

It's a bad habit frequently caused/started by boredom. Sometimes applying Pin Less Peepers for a period of time can help to break the habit.

 

[azygous]

It's not just some harmless fixation. This is a compulsive disorder, and it may have a small dietary component. Feathers are protein, and some chickens will eat them for this reason. However, it's been my experience that the majority of feather picking is a compulsive habit, originating in the brain, and difficult to treat.

If she just began this behavior, try giving her extra protein a few times a week and see if that affects the behavior. Over the years, though, I've had more luck installing pinless peepers to interrupt the behavior, and if caught early on, after a few months, the peepers can be removed and the behavior may not persist. It's worth a try.