How do I stop feather picking

[nancy1zak]

Ok. The run it came with was the biggest the Amish made. Once it arrived, we decided to put another run on and tie the two together. Besides the run it came with...doesn't have a people door and I can't get in. We put up a perch this afternoon in the run. It runs the length of the run and they were pretty curious about it for about 5 mins...and then hopped up on it. We looked around for someone to build us a bigger run, but nobody wants to do it. So we will have to build it ourselves. In the meanwhile, I did throw out the sunflower seeds...and I ordered Hot Pick. Our poor Americauna is in the rabbit hutch. We let her free range today while we were out there. All she wanted to do was get back into the run with the other chickens. So, she didn't go far away. Capturing her to get her back into the rabbit hutch was not very easy.

 

[nancy1zak]

Teach1rus...you have a very nice run and coop. Your husband must be handy! We have a Amish coop that is up off the ground on runners and a small run, compared to yours. Although my wire arrived yesterday, so maybe we can get started on something bigger this weekend. Meanwhile, Nema is still in the rabbit hutch and seems like she is doing better. I will wait until the new run is done before I add her back in. We now live in Northern NJ, but we lived in Fishers, IN for 17 years. What a great place to raise kids. My kids were 12, 10, and 7 when we left 5 years ago. We love NJ, but miss our days with the kids in Indiana.

 

[bathsheba8542]

THanks everyone for the great tips...particularly the axle grease. My poor black chicken is being mauled by hens and rooster alike. It's funny...and I guess it's the pecking order...but some of them are doing great, and others get their feathers yanked out routinely. I'm looking at both extending the chicken yard (which is fairly generous now), and creating a separate day/play space for our two Ameracaunas (sp) and a rooster who was attacked by a thug rooster and blinded. The three get along well, are quiet and happy, and deserve some peace from the rest of those miniature dinosaurs!!! But first, I will try the grease and see if it gets some feathers to grow back.

 

[nancy1zak]

We are still working on the feather picking. We built a much bigger run. So, they how have plenty of room. Plus, we left the other one on...they can go in the really big run, and if they go under the coop ( it is up off the ground on runners) (also it is wired in) and make a left, they can go into the smaller run. So, they have three options...the large run, under the coop, and the left wing. There is a roost in both runs. Plus, I put a crate in the coop if someone needs to hide. In addition, I have been giving them extra protein. I hope it helps. Oh...and I took Miss Feather Picker and separated her. She is so nice and docile and relaxed around people. I don't know why she is so mean to her coop mates.

 

[teach1rusl]

I sure hope the larger space helps.

Yeah, if you separate the bully for a few days, hopefully she'll be knocked down on the pecking order scale. I'd make food available in both wings, so that nobody is forced to try to eat beside a bully. Let us know in a couple of days how it's working out for you after you put missfeatherpicker back in...

Oh, and thanks for the coop comments! DH is quite handy, but I get most of the credit for the run..heeheehee.

 

[Kacey's Krazee's]

Quote:
We have tried the axle grease. Well, at least I think we did. My DH has some high heat lithuim grease, that has a reddish tint. We applied it to the girls, necks, backs and vent areas. The grease was absorbed into their skin, and it appears that some of them are still being picked on. We have 22 girls, and have gobs of room. Over crowding is not an issue. Was this the correct type of axle grease or is there something different. They didn't seem to have any problems with eating it off each other either. Do I also spread it ALL OVER their feathers? or just apply it to the actual bare areas? I am at my wits end, trying to stop them from feather eating! I have been giving them only snacks of BOSS, and greens we have been growing in the garden for them. We are feeding them Layena, and Oyster shell. They are are on a dirt coop and run.

Please any other suggestions would be appreciated.

Kacey

 

[nancy1zak]

Did you try the Blu-Kote? I have used that to disguise any red spots that look tempting to the other chickens to peck at. Although I still find blue feathers around, so I think they peck with the Blu-Kote on too. How about increasing the protein? They love scrambled eggs and sunflower seeds. I switched to Blue Seal Orgainic Layer feed. It has the same protein as the Layena. Also, put some roost bars in the run. We added three bars. They like those and I see that my Americauna uses them alot to keep herself out of the way of being pecked. But, she is definitely at the bottom of the pecking order. They have made a ditch that they all use for a dust bath. If my Americauna is in it, they come over and peck her to get out. My Americauna spends alot of time in the smaller run or inside the coop by herself. : (

 

[kelidei]

Two words--- pinless peepers. I did all the other stuff, blue-kote, increased protein, which helped but I found you have to break the habit--- the peepers help with that. Within 3 weeks my girls looked fantastic. Now about 2 months later they have completely feathered out, gorgeous feathers and no one is picking feathers at all. Here's a link--- don't bother with the special pliers we soaked the peepers in hot water and had no problem getting them on without the pliers. http://www.eggcartons.com/product-exec/product_id/754/nm/Pinless_Peepers_PINLESS_P Good luck!

 

[wanderseek]

About the axle grease, I'm not sure what kind we used. Just plain ol' axle grease, as far as I know. It stinks. It's red in color (which was unintentional). We don't put it all over their feathers. Just on the areas that are getting picked at. And we put it on THICK. A big gob of it right where the feathers are getting pulled out. Or wherever the bird is getting pecked/bitten. As soon as we put it on, the bully goes after the victim again and stops cold when it gets a whiff of that smelly grease! The one who's getting greased doesn't seem to mind, and it doesn't seem to hurt them, though they might holler a little bit from being restrained. ??? After we grease them and put them back down, they go about their usual chicky business.

 

[nancy1zak]

Pinless Peepers...how hard are they to attach. It looks like they go through the nostrils? Does it hurt the chicken?