Hi from RI - can you help with chicken pickin'?

[Cutie'n'Co]

My hubs, kids (5 & 7) and I got some day old chicks last August. We love 'em! And they did really well until April when bald spots began to appear on their backs. They eat layer rations, have a decent sized run with tree and a big rock from which to survey their world, household scraps and horse oat treats. Great layers - that hasn't changed. Checked for parasites - nothing we could see. Gave 6 hens to a neighbor in case it was over-crowding; tried the Wisconsin salt cure...
Now, we see them picking at each other occasionally, the bald spots have got a little worse around the vents. Is de-beaking our only option at this point? I'm worried about them getting frost bite this winter - and they look scruffy which is a shame because they were so very pretty.
All help appreciated.

 

[faykokoWV]

De-beaking seems a little drastic. Any chance they're molting?
They do make "bits" you can put on the chickens so they can't peck each other. There is a post on this site about them.

hopefully some of the veterans on here will have some answers.

 

[Cutie'n'Co]

The bald spots have been bald since late spring! I really don't want to de-beak my girls - or Roosti, but I am afraid they might have developed a bad habit that is going to cause them real harm in the winter. They are such a happy little band otherwise - there has been the odd cut but they haven't resorted to outright cannibalism.
I tried spraying the bald spots with Gentian Blu to disguise re-growth/ in-growing, blood rich feathers but to no avail. Do chickens only grow new feathers after molt in the fall? Or should I have seen feathering our since the dramatic change in appearance back in April/May.
Thanks for your input, I am hoping for a good solution.

 

[JessHall]

from California! Try putting grass in their coop (grass clippings), or lettuce, or maybe some scratch... maybe they're board. I wouldn't de-beak... Keep trying different things. Or maybe you can sit quietly and watch them...see who's doing it. Maybe someone needs to be separated. Best of luck!

 

[texasgal]

A big Texas size

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

greetings!

i'm guessing:

* they are bored - do they freerange? how about giving them something to do. throw in a head of lettuce, some hay, grass clippings, apples
* maybe they have some bugs - can you put DE in their dustbath spots?
* they need more protein? maybe add some milk or broken up hard boiled eggs? maybe they dont like your layer mix??
* um.. is the rooster... 'amorous'? he might be breaking their feathers while um.. that is... 'wooing' them.

i wouldnt debeak....

good luck!

 

[lauralou]

I thought the same thing: Rooster Burn.

Sometimes the roos are a little rough on the feathers of a hen's back. You can put chicken saddles on them to help prevent it.

That doesn't really explain the balding near the vents, though. But it could be from molting. Especially since it is a recent addition to the problem. I have some girls that are molting right now.

I wouldn't debeak if I were you.

 

[b.hromada]

and

from S. Florida. Glad you joined us! Looks like you got some great answers to your problem. Hope all works out for your girls!

 

[Judy]

Quote:
I agree, these are the usual causes of feather loss, plus overcrowding.

 

[Cutie'n'Co]

What a great response! Thank you all so much for the welcome and the ideas.
I don't think it's boredom. The kids are in to visit often, they free-range for a couple of hours here and there and, as well as kitchen scraps, they get the bug-infested remains from my organic garden to pick through. Still can't see any uninvited guests around the coop and the molt does seem to have started - just to complicate matters! I have changed their rations and am going to visit the girls I gave a neighbor and see how they are looking after a month of no roosterous shenanigans. My husband is

at the hen apron idea - he won't be so quick to invite friends over to 'pick up chicks' if we have to go that route!