Hens losing tail feathers

[zando64]

Hello all,
keeping red sex-links for the last few years. This year most of my birds are losing their tail feathers, but none of the other feathers.... same living conditions, same feed as always. One rooster and about 50 hens. few ducks that look fine. fresh water, commercial layer mix + some additional wheat, + some oyster shells, but not too much. extra cold winter.
Why are they losing their tails? what to do to help them re-grow? will they re-grow ever - they look sad without them...
Ideas? suggestions?
many thanks

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

You have one or several hens eating them.. try spotting her and applying blinders, but for now, Blu kote or no pick should help! Good luck!

 

[aart]

Blinders might work.....if you can identify a bird that is picking feathers.
Blukote and no pick type goops will not do a thing, can even attract more pecking attention(if indeed that's the problem).
Tail feathers would not be the best choice for hungry birds, too big to eat,
they'd go for the soft fluffy ones.

Need more info @zando64 to offer a viable solution
How old are these birds...all birds are red sexlinks 3 years(36 months) old?
50 birds is a lot of birds!
How big is coop and run, in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics would help here.
Pics of birds too.

What is the protein percentage of the layer feed?
Are you mixing the wheat in with the feed at a certain ratio?

Would be good to know your location too.

Oh, and...Welcome to BYC!
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

Blinders might work.....if you can identify a bird that is picking feathers.
Blukote and no pick type goops will not do a thing, can even attract more pecking attention(if indeed that's the problem).
Tail feathers would not be the best choice for hungry birds, too big to eat,
they'd go for the soft fluffy ones.

Need more info @zando64 to offer a viable solution
How old are these birds...all birds are red sexlinks 3 years(36 months) old?
50 birds is a lot of birds!
How big is coop and run, in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics would help here.
Pics of birds too.

What is the protein percentage of the layer feed?
Are you mixing the wheat in with the feed at a certain ratio?

Would be good to know your location too.

Oh, and...Welcome to BYC!
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!
View attachment 1723441

Oops... Sorry

 

[zando64]

hello all,
responding to the questions above - sorry, should have posted more info to begin with...
the chickens are 9 months old (when I said I have been keeping them for few years I meant to say - I am not a total novice). All of the same kind, all of the same age. About 50-55 birds in all, + 6 ducks. The coop is 24'x24' inside, and they have a sizable yard outside, +summer access to the rest of the 5 acres we are on... They have fresh water all the time through an automatic waterer. The coop is north and east side insulated, but not additionally heated. We had a colder than average February (-35F for several weeks) - but they had lots of hay on the floor to play in...
I have few of the hens older than the rest by a year, and their bottoms are bare but seem healthy otherwise.
Diet - 17% feed + some extra wheat, or rolled oats from time to time, alfalfa, and some (but not much) oyster shells. Kitchen scraps - of course, but between all of them - this os not their main food...
? what else? ideas?
the pictures are marginal, but chasing them in the yard produced more fun for the observers that good results as pictures

 

[Alaskan]

The do look like they are eating each other....

It might have started due to itchiness from parasites.

I would first look them over VERY closely and carefully (because lice and mites are darn small) and see if there are any parasites.

If there are parasites...figure out which ones, treat correctly for that kind... then you will have to break them of the habit of eating each other! (Which can be hard)

I have had best success with giving them access to a huge weedy overgrown area, and locking them up only at night. They need to stay busy.

Pinless peepers might help if you can't figure out how to keep them busy enough.

Also increasing the protein level in their feed can help. Feed them a 20% protein feed for at least a month. But..... now that feather picking/eating is a habit, they will need more than high protein to get them to relearn behavior.