How to stop feather pecking!?

[RootedTogetherHomestead]

So, one of our girls has feathers missing on her vent area (Butterfly). We watched and saw the culprit and what was happening. Sunshine (the culprit) pecks at Butterfly's butt feathers whenever she is dustbathing or preening herself. I think Sunshine thinks she is helping? as there is no blood drawn and Butterfly doesn't seem to mind. Butterfly is one of the top girls and has no problem putting Sunshine in her place (seen it before). How do we stop this? We got 2 flock blocks, cabbage hanging, we let them out whenever we can (a lot of predators in our area), and give them scratch grains with meal worms often. They have 12sq ft each in the runner. We have clutter in the coop. Is there a safe spray or deterrent we can put on Butterfly to prevent Sunshine from doing this? TIA!

Edit: They have 20% protein Kalmbach feed and OS, and grit.

 

[Frontyard Chicken Owner]

I had a problem like this. They make plastic "blinders" that clip onto a chickens face, called pinless peepers. I used them and they worked well ,the block a chickens forward sight but they still see everything else well. Try giving them scrambled eggs for extra protein as well

 

[RootedTogetherHomestead]

I had a problem like this. They make plastic "blinders" that clip onto a chickens face, called pinless peepers. I used them and they worked well ,the block a chickens forward sight but they still see everything else well. Try giving them scrambled eggs for extra protein as well

Thank you for the reply! How long did you keep the pinless peepers on for? I will definitely start giving them scrambled eggs. I put a pumpkin in their runner and she seems to be more occupied with pecking the pumpkin than her flockmates butts for now until we get the peepers in.

 

[FarmerGirl101]

Pinless peepers are a good idea. I think you might need to take them off every so often. One thread said every 2 weeks. At 20% protein, I don't think a lack of protein is the issue. If it were 16% or even 17% then I would say that is an option.

 

[Frontyard Chicken Owner]

Thank you for the reply! How long did you keep the pinless peepers on for? I will definitely start giving them scrambled eggs. I put a pumpkin in their runner and she seems to be more occupied with pecking the pumpkin than her flockmates butts for now until we get the peepers in.

We left them on until she stopped showing an interest in pecking/until the pecked chickens' feathers grow back. The pumpkin in the meantime is a good idea Let me know if the peepers work for you!

 

[RootedTogetherHomestead]

Update: We FINALLY broke down and put some pinless peepers on Marigold and Sunshine on New Year's Day. Marigold did not cope well with hers AT ALL. She stopped eating/drinking, so we took them off her. She has not pecked at anyone's feathers (but Lavender - who is her archenemy). They have been on Sunshine for 7 days now, and we have not seen her going after any tushies since day 2. We could see her trying to calculate a way to peck the feathers, but she has stopped doing that. She will have them for one more week, then we will give her a trial and see how she does. She seems to be doing very well with them, aside from struggling to eat her tiny little kibble bits (so I give her mash every evening before bed). Will update and say how she is once they are off.