Hen picking and eating rooster feathers

[NoCluckingAround]

I have a rooster that is getting plucked by a hen, mostly on the necks and near the base of the tale. They have access to good layer feed all day and the my kids also collect and feed them worms and bugs. I scrambled some eggs for them this morning and it didn’t really get touched. Does anybody have any advice to stop this behaviour?

 

[HappyClucker7]

Are you giving them enough calcium? Make sure they always have calcium chips available to eat whenever they need them.
To stop the behavior, I recommend getting some pine tar and putting it on the spots where the hen is pulling his feathers. Chickens hate the taste of pine tar, and once she gets a taste of it, she will very quickly stop pulling his feathers out.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

What age is he and she? (Also what breed is he? O.O ) it might be an age difference related bully

 

[NoCluckingAround]

What age is he and she? (Also what breed is he? O.O ) it might be an age difference related bully

I was told they are 2 years old. They are Hmong, beautiful birds!

 

[NoCluckingAround]

Are you giving them enough calcium? Make sure they always have calcium chips available to eat whenever they need them.
To stop the behavior, I recommend getting some pine tar and putting it on the spots where the hen is pulling his feathers. Chickens hate the taste of pine tar, and once she gets a taste of it, she will very quickly stop pulling his feathers out.

Thanks for the advice! They have access to egg shells. The hen in question isn’t laying at the moment which puzzles me even more, thinking she shouldn’t really need the extra protein/calcium?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I was told they are 2 years old. They are Hmong, beautiful birds!

Oh wow, beautiful birds. Where did you get them?

Are the feathers being pulled different colors than the rest?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Feather picking could possibly be related to needing more protein, or just plain boredom, though in this case, some of it sounds like grooming gone too far. Not unheard of to have a rooster having his neck and throat groomed bare by his favorite hen(s) - doesn't seem to bother them that much, but not very pretty to look at.

 

[aart]

Not unheard of to have a rooster having his neck and throat groomed bare by his favorite hen(s) - doesn't seem to bother them that much, but not very pretty to look at.

Yeppers...happening here too.
Have had it happen with EE's eating each other beards/muffs.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yeppers...happening here too.
Have had it happen with EE's eating each other beards/muffs.

Yup one of my EEs looks closer and closer to a Turken with each passing day. The other one still has some muffs, but by fall most of it will probably be gone, just in time for molt.

 

[Winchikn]

Having the same problem here with a flock who have picked a bit at my EE muff and beard but in cold, snowy conditions over the last week have suddenly removed all his hackle feathers.

They are 2.5 years old and on 16% layer ration. I can increase to 18% but wonder about using a flock block for entertainment. Is this a bad idea if too little protein could be an issue?