Hen Pecking.....what a mess

[KIMEng]

Hello,
I thought my hens had mites, but no mites, no lice, just a lot of feather loss around the backside of 1 particular hen so we removed her from the coop and began treating her; I gave her a soothing warm bath and then applied hen healer this blue goo to her backside and have applied it daily for 3 days now. Then of course in the interim noted more of the girls showing up with missing feathers. What to do about this horrible behavior. I even think the current isolated hen is pecking her own feathers out I have caught her several time packing at her back side and under her wings . I think the blue goo also helps in not letting the hens get a good grab on the feathers.

We are setting up a camera to catch the main hen, a Barred Rock, I believe that most likely began this behavior. Is it normal for a hen to peck her own feathers out. They do not want for food, I have 3 feeders set up for 7 hens, they get to free range a bit several times a day and I feed them some dried worms and crickets periodically as a treat They can also get some leftover veggies and fruit.

Please help what else can I do-these are healthy well kept hens?
Thanks
Kim a frustrated Chicken Mamma

 

[Wezdin]

The most common reason a hen will eat feathers is because she wants more protein in her diet. I would recommend either finding a higher protein feed or feeding high protein foods in moderation. I have had this problem before and it cleared up fine with the occasional handful of dry cat food or Black sunflower seeds. Hope this helps!

 

[Folly's place]

What are you feeding besides the goodies?
And what is the 'blue goo?
Mary

 

[KIMEng]

PIC of Blue goo and Feed

 

[Folly's place]

Try a food upgrade, for example, the Purina Flock Raiser, if it's fresh by mill date where you shop. My birds didn't do well on that Dumor feed, or layer feeds in general.
Paying more for a better basic feed is less expensive than adding ??? stuff!
Mary

 

[KIMEng]

I put her in the coop for a few hours with the other hens and she immediately submerged herself in a dust bath so much for my clean bottom on her, she does not like the blue goo. I heard there was a spray you can use that stops feather pecking, it smells and tastes really bad, any one heard of that?
Thanks

 

[Folly's place]

Maybe look again for mites? In the dark while they are roosting, with a flashlight, around the vents, under wings, and neck.
There are sprays, or try neosporin.
Mary

 

[50-45-1]

I am wondering about the space your chickens have.
How many chickens all together?
All hens or do you have a rooster?
Being cooped up in not enough space, add boredom, and you likely have a feather picking problem.
If its not mites or lice, and your feed quality is good, this may be the problem.

 

[KIMEng]

I am wondering about the space your chickens have.
How many chickens all together?
All hens or do you have a rooster?
Being cooped up in not enough space, add boredom, and you likely have a feather picking problem.
If its not mites or lice, and your feed quality is good, this may be the problem.

We have a 200 sq foot coop with 7 hens, 1 Sex link (the one whose bottom is plucked the worse and also the one who is plucking her own bottom) 1 Polish, second worse bottom, 2 Barred Rocks, 1 Silver laced Wyanadotte, 1 Jersey Giant and 1 Lavender Orpington. They get free rage time 1-2 times a day; we have significant predators around here so all free range is escorted. All hens, no Roos. The girls are really super layers, the Sex Link everyday without fail; the others about 5 times a week-even the polish. Really bringing in about 35 - 40 eggs a week. The Fl winter was mild and they were laying eggs all through it.

 

[blackandtan]

I put her in the coop for a few hours with the other hens and she immediately submerged herself in a dust bath so much for my clean bottom on her, she does not like the blue goo. I heard there was a spray you can use that stops feather pecking, it smells and tastes really bad, any one heard of that?
Thanks

Blu kote might be the product you’re thinking of. It’s sold as an antiseptic spray but it does taste bad and also camouflages problem areas. If you have good food, enough space and no bugs it could be a habit or boredom. It can be hard to stop pecking and get the feathers to grow back if there’s little dots of new feathers on a bare backside...try drawing a black dot on a white sheet of paper and you’ll see what I mean! Covering the area with the spray makes it all the same dark colour and gives the feathers a chance to grow.
Good luck!