Home made remedies for feather plucking??

[sara1226]

I have a 7 month old RIR who is the smallest and youngest in my little flock of 4. Hence, she is at the bottom of the pecking order, and one chicken in particular sneaks up behind her and plucks out her tail feathers.

Yes, they are getting extra protein, and the plucking hen doesn't even eat the plucked feathers. No, they aren't board, I hang out cabbage, they have a mirror, and other chicken entertaining devices. Nope, it's not lice or mites either. I checked, no one is itching and scratching, I use DE, etc.

All I can conclude is that my feather plucking hen, who thinks she runs the roost, is just a total jerk!

I tired a chicken saddle today, she was NOT having it.. At all. Just kept trying to pull it off. So my question is..

Is there a homemade recipe for feather plucking spray.. Sometimes called "pick spray"?

Any advice is hugely appreciated!


Thanks!!!

 

[GitaBooks]

It sounds like you take good care of your chickens.

I've never really experienced feather picking, so I don't think I can help there.

Here is are a couple links that can though: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/back-to-basic-living-feather-picking-plucking-and-cannibalism

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2013/03/chicken-feather-loss-cannibalism-causes.html

I've heard sprays like Bitter Apple and Listerine are used on parrots that pick their own feathers. There are others too.

I realize these links will say a lot about protein and boredom, so you can just skip over these things.

Best of luck!

 

[sara1226]

Thanks so much for your reply. What a beautiful silkie there in your picture!

 

[GitaBooks]

Thanks.

That's Ginger, with her first chick, Jeremiah.