How can I stop feather picking?

[ChristinaBee]

This last week I noticed two of my chickens (speckled Sussex and polish) are missing feathers in front of their tail. When I was getting a closer look both my welsummer and barred rock pecked at the polish’s feathers. I have a feeling they are bored stuck in the run and coop with all the snow. I have a good amount of perches in the run and scatter treats in hay and shavings to help with the boredom. I’ve made an additional perch since the photos and have some cut tree trunks through out. I’ve checked for mites and they are all about 8 months old.

What can I do to stop this before it gets worse?

 

[CluckerFamily]

Having more feeders would help.
Some boredom buster would also help.

 

[aart]

Is it just a picked feather here and there or a full out chase em down pick as many as possible?
Do you have a male?

What all and how exactly are you feeding?

How many birds total and how big is coop and run, in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics of the whole set up would help here.

Add some clutter and 'enrichment'.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[ChristinaBee]

Is it just a picked feather here and there or a full out chase em down pick as many as possible?
Do you have a male?

What all and how exactly are you feeding?

How many birds total and how big is coop and run, in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics of the whole set up would help here.

Add some clutter and 'enrichment'.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

I have 7 chickens and no males. They appear to just casually pluck a feather here and there and the two who get pecked don’t run away. My coop is 6x8ft and the run is 18x8ft. They currently eat a 16% layer feed and always have access to oyster shells. They almost always stay in the run during the day unless they are eating or drinking as the food and water is in the coop. They have a grandpas feeder. I can get better pictures of the inside of the coop but it’s basically what you see and the wall not pictured has the nest boxes on the outside wall and ramp to get to the roost. I have a log in there too but they don’t seem to use it.

 

[aart]

Sounds like good sized spaces.
Are they laying now?
Might try some higher protein feed....or some animal protein type treats like water packed canned mackeral.
Go for some more clutter in the run, especially some things that block line of sight.

 

[Craig Cowan]

CB,
From photos - I’m guessing Run - approx 8‘ x 16’
suggested boredom busters are a big help for me.
I hang a cabbage/ head of lettuce, I have a mirror in there,
but there are a myriad of things to” keep em busy”
you can do. Especially NOW - where you & I are located
I have 22” of snow that fell yesterday.

 

[MissE]

You could try some Blue Kote on the hens that are missing feathers. I use the spray style. That seems to stop them because they can't see any skin or red spots. I've only needed to use it a couple times, but it seems to work and the problem doesn't get worse.

Maybe add some hiding spaces or visual barriers. A couple 5 gallon buckets on their sides, a straw bale, a pallet leaning against the wall (secured so it doesnt fall over) and some toys might give them something to do and places to hide if needed.

Winter is long here. Mine have had about enough of it, as have I, but things to play with and climb on helps them deal with it until they can forage and to chicken things again.

 

[ChristinaBee]

Sounds like good sized spaces.
Are they laying now?
Might try some higher protein feed....or some animal protein type treats like water packed canned mackeral.
Go for some more clutter in the run, especially some things that block line of sight.

Thanks for the advice. I do need to get a new bag of food soon so maybe I should switch back to the 18% grower feed. They have not started to lay yet, although a few seem to be close. I’ll have to check around the shop and property to see what else I can put in there. I never considered something like mackerel, I’ll look into that as well!

 

[ChristinaBee]

CB,
From photos - I’m guessing Run - approx 8‘ x 16’
suggested boredom busters are a big help for me.
I hang a cabbage/ head of lettuce, I have a mirror in there,
but there are a myriad of things to” keep em busy”
you can do. Especially NOW - where you & I are located
I have 22” of snow that fell yesterday.

I have some eye bolts laying around so I think I’ll also try hanging something for them in the run. I have a mirror but mine don’t seem interested in it. I’m going to look around to see what I can find to put in there for them. I’m sorry to hear you got that much snow! I’m in the southern Adirondacks and only got about 8” here.

 

[ChristinaBee]

You could try some Blue Kote on the hens that are missing feathers. I use the spray style. That seems to stop them because they can't see any skin or red spots. I've only needed to use it a couple times, but it seems to work and the problem doesn't get worse.

Maybe add some hiding spaces or visual barriers. A couple 5 gallon buckets on their sides, a straw bale, a pallet leaning against the wall (secured so it doesnt fall over) and some toys might give them something to do and places to hide if needed.

Winter is long here. Mine have had about enough of it, as have I, but things to play with and climb on helps them deal with it until they can forage and to chicken things again.

I’ll buy some blue kote since I don’t have any on hand. You can’t see any skin or redness yet so probably a good idea to be prepared. They used to get a couple hours a day of free ranging so I’m sure they aren’t happy in the confined space. I’m going to look into more chicken enrichment ideas.