I think I found a miracle cure for feather picking

[Lacy Blues]

When you re-introduce her to the flock, it will probably help a lot to change up the layout of their pen. Move feeders/waterers around, maybe add a bunch of shavings or leaves to the coop itself and perhaps a bucket or two left upside down in the yard for a few days just to throw the flock off a bit so that your polish is not the only new thing in the yard! They notice things like that.

 

[Maurice11]

yes, I will. right now i have to mix the Feather Fixer with scratch, as well as mash, to get them to eat it so far so good. This is week one. To be continued ..............

 

[azygous]

The one thing I hadn't yet tried for feather-picking is fermented feed. So two days ago I decided to mix some up. I fed it to the chickens this morning for the first time, and they really liked it.

The advantages of FF are easier digestion, more complete nutrient absorption, lower feed bill, less waste, firmer, less smelly poops, and now I'm hoping to see a reduction in Flo's feather-picking drive.

Of course, it's too soon to tell if it's affecting her, but she hasn't stalked any feathers today.

I used the Feather Fixer along with flock raiser and scratch grains plus BOSS in the fermented feed. You just add warm water and a few glugs of ACV to cover the mash and let it ferment for a couple days until it starts getting a sour dough odor and it gets foamy and airy looking. That's all there is to it. You just keep adding more feed and water as you get low.

If this works for the feather-picking problem, I may be able to say I've finally found the miracle cure.

 

[Lacy Blues]

I hope that works for you. I've fermented my feed for the last year but I got stupid at one point and only fermented whole grains... didn't buy a complete feed at all for several months. I'm now fermenting feather fixer and game bird grower pellets. It gets really pasty and they don't seem to like it like that. So, I'm mixing in some grains to the ferment as well as lots of greens and stuff to break it up and if needed, I'll add some of those pelleted feeds dry so that the moisture is broken up and it is more crumbly. All in all, I think it will be much better for them. Everybody is growing in new feathers. They're getting pretty again! I think that some of my problem has been mice eating their feathers. I've got tons of carnivorous mice! I hate the things. I need to find out if one of those ultrasonic mouse repellant things will work and not bother the birds.

Keep us posted on how Flo responds.

 

[Maurice11]

good luck - sounds like alot of work. I will continue with Feather Fixer, scratch and laying mash, plus grass hay from the barn and a head of lettuce a day not to mention those yummy left overs from my dinner. So far, no nefarious plucking. May it continue.

 

[azygous]

So far Flo isn't doing any feather stalking. And, Maurice, fermenting the feed is as easy as regular feed, and the chickens just love it.

One of the most spectacular changes I've noticed so far is my one Speckled Sussex, whose default state of poop has been runny from the time she was a day-old chick, has solid poop under her perch for the very first time in her two years.

It could be that she's digesting the FF more thoroughly. Another important side effect is that FF sets up a condition in the chicken gut where bad bacteria like cocci and salmonella can't bloom and multiply.

I simply keep adding more water, feed, scratch grains and BOSS to the bucket as I take out FF to feed. There really isn't any more work to it than that.

 

[pegm]

Is Flo wearing peepers? Just curious, I am planning on keeping the peepers on Mer until Jan, but if you think the ff is stopping her feather stalking, I may try to take them off a little earlier. If it can help a serial feather stalker like Flo (keeping fingers crossed for her), it should help Mer. Altho I am sure feather picking drives vary from bird to bird, this may be a good step forward.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Is Flo wearing peepers? Just curious, I am planning on keeping the peepers on Mer until Jan, but if you think the ff is stopping her feather stalking, I may try to take them off a little earlier. If it can help a serial feather stalker like Flo (keeping fingers crossed for her), it should help Mer. Altho I am sure feather picking drives vary from bird to bird, this may be a good step forward.

 

[azygous]

Yes, The Serial Feather Stalker still wears peepers. Always in the past, when I remove the peepers, Flo starts going after feathers again within just a day or so. The flock has been on the fermented feed for only a week. It's far too soon to be able to say it's inhibiting Flo's feather drive. But so far, she's not shown any interest in feathers.

If this continues for a month, THEN I will remove Flo's peepers. If she doesn't go after feathers after that, I will shout to the universe at the top of my lungs, "Flo is cured! We have our miracle cure for real!!"

But we need to wait another three weeks before I take the peepers off. That puts it right on winter solstice. Is that ominous or what?

 

[Maurice11]

wow! I am impressed. Hope I won't have to do all that, so far so good with just lay mash, feather fixer. scratch and other amenities (hay, lettuce, table scraps) Who knew it would get into such a science???????????? BUT, at the end of week two, no feather plucking. May it continue........................