I could just scream!

[welovechickens]

I went out to clean the coop and play with my 3 girls earlier, and found that my EE's backside had (again, for the 4th time) been plucked bare! She'd finally grown her fluff out completely. My SLW (the picker) has been wearing pinless peepers (has been for the last 2 weeks)!

I don't know of anything else I can do, short of re-homing the SLW, or turning her into dinner.

We've tried everything else: bag balm/mentholatum on EE's backside (worked for a day or two), Blu-Kote (worked for maybe a week), and petroleum jelly mixed with grape koolaid powder (that didn't work at all!) I haven't tried vinegar or pine tar, but I'm tired of putting goopy stuff on my chicken.

It seems pretty clear that the SLW doesn't have tastebuds, so stuff that tastes bad is worthless.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to re-home her, unless anyone has an incredible idea. LOL!

 

[trilyn]

All I can think of is protein deficiency? Someone else will know waaay more than me and have much better advice. However, I do feel horrible for you, it's awful when you put so much time and energy into making sure they're healthy and then they pluck each other bald!!! grrrrr

 

[welovechickens]

Thanks Trilyn, yes, it is VERY frustrating!

I'm pretty sure it's not a protein deficiency, because they all get lots of treats that have protein, along with their regular laying crumbles.

This plucking started during a time where we had to be away from home most of the day, for a couple weeks in a row. So they didn't get to be out of their house much. (They have a huge run, but as we all know, the run isn't worth anything to the chickens....they want OUT of the enclosure...LOL) I think the SLW got bored and started this at that point, and it turned into a habit. She is a very hyper chicken anyway, almost like a child that demands to be entertained 24/7. She is never happy unless she's OUTSIDE the chicken house where she can run around and do what she wants.

I forgot to mention that their house is plenty big for the 3 of them, so it's not a crowding issue.

 

[Sequin]

Maybe get a saddle for the one regrowing the feathers? Either that, or I would keep them separated until the regrowth is 100% completed. The issue may be a visual one, and chickens will just keep pecking until the issue is gone. You could take the picked on girl and keep her away from the other 2, then reintroduce her when all of her feathers are completely back in. In the meantime, a bit of extra protein in everyones diet wouldn't hurt.

 

[welovechickens]

The feathers are being picked from my EE's backside, starting underneath her vent. I don't think separating the EE from the others will help, because the "picky" SLW is already the top chicken, and I'm afraid she will be even more inclined to be abusive if she gets the run of the place without the EE being in there for awhile.

Do you think it might help to separate the SLW into another complete pen, where she can't even see the others? I don't think I would be able to trust her at all anymore, when she picked even while wearing the peepers.

(She is currently inside a wire cage that is inside the chicken house with the others.)

 

[Sequin]

Six in one, half dozen in the other - you could pen her completely out of sight from the EE. But I think so long as she is unable to physically get to the EE until all the feathers are Completely regrown is the main thing. If you notice her at it again when the two are reintroduced then I would probably sell her or send her to freezer camp, unfortunately.

 

[welovechickens]

Yeah, I don't think I'm willing to risk it happening again....I think Betty will go to a new home ASAP.

 

[underground chickenman]

With feather picking, you have to look at the following:

1. Temperature, especially heat.
2. Nutrition, especially protein.
3. Space, either too confining or too crowded.
4. Boredom, nothing else to peck or scratch -- can be related to the space issue above.
5. Temperament, some birds are just pickers, or once they do it, even if it is initially due to one or more of the first four reasons above, it just becomes a habit even if the initial problem is solved.

If you don't have an issue with the first four, then it is probably the last one. Don't re-home her until you have addressed the first four.

Good luck and be sure to post so we know what happened, especially if you solve the problem without removing her. If that happens, tell us what you did so we can all learn something.

UGCM

 

[toletiquesbysam]

I've got feather pickers too and it's terrible! I've started them back to free ranging and that's helped, but if I knew who the culprit was, they would be GONE!!

 

[A.T. Hagan]

You may have a real hardcase that nothing is going to cure, but before I culled her I'd try the pine tar.

Yeah, it's kinda nasty to get on your hands (it does wash off with soap and hot water though), but it worked well for me. I just had a hen whose head got picked open badly. Sprayed it with Blue-Kote then coated it with pine tar. The picking stopped right then and there.

.....Alan.