Hen pecks feathers from bird and eats them

[FarmerCarl]

I have a RIR hen that chases my Cornish X chicks (5wks), plucks the feathers from them and then eats the feathers. Is that weird or what! I always know it's happening because I can hear the chicks squawking and running away. They stay in a stall in the barn and the hen jumps in there to bully them and have a feather snack.

I have seven RIR hens and only one is pulling feathers. What does this mean?

 

[Wifezilla]

Could be protein deficiency. What are you feeding them?

 

[FarmerCarl]

They have free choice Layena and I have oyster shell out for them too. They free range and get assorted bugs and greens in season. It's been too cold for them to catch many bugs but that will change this weekend with highs in the upper 70/ low 80's. Woohoo!

 

[cmom]

I had one RIR that was particularly aggressive. She would jump on the pullets and pull their feathers out. After a few surprise shots of water from a hose she has let up.

 

[Renee]

You should probably stop her from doing this, as it can progress into cannibalism.

Sometimes addtional protein in the diet will stop the behavior.

Good luck!

 

[beginnerchick08]

I had a hen loose some feathers and another one came and ate them. I thought it was very weird also but i just figured she was trying everything bc it was their first day free ranging.

 

[Dragonwolf]

Mine are doing the same thing, except I think it's an aggressive dominance thing. I have 2 Auracanas that are doing it to my 2 Salmon Faverolles... Usually they get along, but, lately they've been totally cowed! They cower in their pen while the Auracanas come out and forage....