How often to use pine tar

[llamagirl]

How often do you apply the pine tar for feather picking? I have 10 week old domomiques and they just started this a few days ago. I believe all 4 are doing it to each other. I have provided black oil sunflower seed as well but they haven't seemed to eat it yet. I'm worried about them eating the pine tar. Will it hurt them?

 

[Omran]

Quote:
Pine tar will not hurt them, but it might be an Issue with not enough space or not sufficent nutrition in thier diet, or they might be bord, so I will make sure that they have something to attend too( play with) roosts, Grass etc, and check the lable of thier feed and see if it contains all the things they need.

 

[llamagirl]

Thanks Omran! The pine tar seems to be working and I believe they have learned to eat the sunflower seeds today. I do put a suet feeder in their run with cabbage in it and a tub with dirt and grass. They have their grass in their run as well because, it is mobile. They are only 10 weeks old so, I believe they have enough room for now. Will be working on their coop soon to attach to the run before they are full grown.

 

[purpletree23]

Did you check them for mites and lice??? Do they have a protein shortage in their diets? If they are eating the feathers it is most likley a shortage of protein.

 

[llamagirl]

I am feeding them Countryside organic feed which has adequate protein. However, I am giving them sunflower seeds which they are not acting too crazy about. I also give them occassional meat scraps. They don't have mites or lice either. I have used DE since I first got them and have been putting it in their food as well. I have checked them during the day and in the evening for this.
I believe this is a new found habit that they started out of boredom. I have also put a suet feeder with cabbage at least a couple of times a week and they have a dirt box that I fill up weekly. I think they have slowed down on the feather picking since I put the pine tar on. We will see how effective this is.