How Do I Deter Plucking Hens?

[anbhean]

So after getting some good advice here, I think one of my hens (who suspiciously does not have missing feathers) is plucking the rear end feathers from my other two (otherwise healthy) girls! Help! How do I make her stop?

I haven't seen the behavior, but I'm guessing it happens in the coop. Should I make her roost elsewhere and not let her be in the coop but to lay eggs? Why is she doing it? Do they need more protein maybe?

 

[schellie69]

What are you feeding them Mine do this when either their protein is low or they are board.

 

[Ms.Frizzle]

I've switched to a red heat lamp for chicks when this has happened before. Coupled with this purple stain that tastes foul to chickens, it worked wonderful. I had a few purple hens though...

 

[anbhean]

We've been feeding them the Purina Layena as long as they've been laying, plus a high quality scratch, all the greens they can munch lately and other scraps like pasta, whole grain bread, berries-- really whatever is left after a meal that's good for them. We've also been giving them a can of tuna once, or twice, a week to boost their protein when we thought it was molting.

Ms. Fizzle-- What kind of dye and do you know where I could get it?

 

[Ms.Frizzle]

The dye was a bacterial disinfectant to clean the wound, and the purple was to cover up the red since that’s a stimulant for chickens (they like red things). I think we got ours at the Mennonite store, or else A-Z. If you Google it, there are many different brands out there, they all do the same thing. I bet if you called the local feed store, they'd know what you were asking for.

 

[toby1959]

Sounds like it isn't diet related. Purple spray comes from the vet. It is an all around antiseptic that can be used on most anything.