I think I found a miracle cure for feather picking

[Lacy Blues]

If it is still watery, you might add another scoop of lay pellets.

 

[azygous]

You know what, Sharon? I'm constantly re-doing the manufactured stuff I buy. Things seems to be tossed together these days with no real long range thought to them such as your red-colored anti-pick lotion for your chickens. I agree it's insane and ill thought out. So, what I would do in your situation is add some blue food coloring to the bottle of "no-pick". That will change it from red to purple, and purple is a neutral color for chickens.

I'm pleased that you've decided to give fermented feed a try. I have strong faith that this will have very positive results for your poor chickens. Everything I've heard indicates you should see dramatic improvements in their appearance in just two or three months. Their behavior should start changing right away.

I've learned an easy trick to getting rid of the excess liquid in my FF. I ferment it in a regular bucket until around twelve hours before I'm ready to start feeding from it. I then pour it into another bucket that I've drilled tiny (1/32") diameter holes into the bottom and a few inches up the sides. This I place inside another bucket to catch the draining liquid. Some people just use a fine strainer, but that takes too long and is messy. The bucket-strainer drains the excess liquid overnight, and the feed is just the right consistency by morning.

The only drawback to this is that, if left to keep draining, it become too dry and crumbly. So I just pour it back into a regular bucket after it's thoroughly drained.

The advantage of this system is you can't get the "recipe" wrong. There's no big risk to adding too much liquid since you will be able to drain it off. And there is no waste, either. This excess liquid will be your starter culture for your next batch.

 

[Lacy Blues]

You know what, Sharon? I'm constantly re-doing the manufactured stuff I buy. Things seems to be tossed together these days with no real long range thought to them such as your red-colored anti-pick lotion for your chickens. I agree it's insane and ill thought out. So, what I would do in your situation is add some blue food coloring to the bottle of "no-pick". That will change it from red to purple, and purple is a neutral color for chickens.

I'm pleased that you've decided to give fermented feed a try. I have strong faith that this will have very positive results for your poor chickens. Everything I've heard indicates you should see dramatic improvements in their appearance in just two or three months. Their behavior should start changing right away.

I've learned an easy trick to getting rid of the excess liquid in my FF. I ferment it in a regular bucket until around twelve hours before I'm ready to start feeding from it. I then pour it into another bucket that I've drilled tiny (1/32") diameter holes into the bottom and a few inches up the sides. This I place inside another bucket to catch the draining liquid. Some people just use a fine strainer, but that takes too long and is messy. The bucket-strainer drains the excess liquid overnight, and the feed is just the right consistency by morning.

The only drawback to this is that, if left to keep draining, it become too dry and crumbly. So I just pour it back into a regular bucket after it's thoroughly drained.

The advantage of this system is you can't get the "recipe" wrong. There's no big risk to adding too much liquid since you will be able to drain it off. And there is no waste, either. This excess liquid will be your starter culture for your next batch.

You could just scoop out a little of the ferment liquid and mix it into the too dry feed. That way at least you wouldn't have to wait for it to drain again.

Me? I'd just feed it out. It is fermented, even if its dry.

 

[Sharon Bee]

Another question about my FF recipe. How long does it take to ferment? I have it inside by a furnace vent so it has warmth. I started it yesterday. I've stirred it a few times.

Good idea Azygous. I'll add blue food coloring to the red liquid. OMG....it looks exactly like BLOOD! How stupid is that! I've a good mind to email the manufacturer and ask about it. It wasn't cheap either.

 

[azygous]

The first ferment takes around three days at the warm temperature where you have it. After that, a new batch just takes 24 hours using the active liquid from the previous batch. You will be able to smell the ferment. It will have a tangy, wine smell, as opposed to simply wet feed. As the feed ferments, it will get fluffy and spongy in appearance, as opposed to a solid, wet mass of simply wet feed.

 

[azygous]

It's been exactly three months almost to the day I began feeding fermented feed, hoping it would be the miracle cure for feather picking that I've been searching for.

FAIL.

Just this morning I had been reading over last year's calendar to see how egg laying compared to this time last year. I noticed a notation that "Flo as resumed feather picking." I read on further and saw,"Linda is picking." Then, "Geobett is picking." That was this time last year.

I was out in the run a bit later and happened to notice Flo start operating on Joycie's neck. Joycie is her favorite victim. Then almost immediately, I saw Sylvia, one of the Sussex, nibble on one of the new pullets. Not long after that, Geobett and Linda did a drive-by on some of the new pullets. All of the Sussex are picking again, except for one. And Flo.

So, pinless peepers went on four recidivist pickers.

I can't tell you all how disappointed I am.

 

[zinia8]

I have pickers also. They have been eating FF since they were chicks a year ago. Hoping maybe once they can start free ranging again it may help. May resort to peepers or the ax.

SS in the center is the main picker. She only picks on the other SS. Leaves the tetras alone and the little brown leghorn will retaliate. Think it has now turned into a habit because
They have all taking turns in grooming the rooster of his hackle and saddle feathers.

 

[pegm]

Oh Azygous I had my fingers crossed for you...so sorry! Will have to keep a closer watch on Mer now, but so far so good and they are all laying. If she starts, she can wear peepers the rest of her life, I won't care. It was a funny reaction from my buff Orphington when I put Mer back in without the peepers, the BO started looking like she was going to peck at Mer's face. Didn't happen tho.

 

[azygous]

I've been dealing with this feather picking issue going on four years now. As I just noticed this morning, this may be related to onset of laying since it's been coincidental that these main culprits all have commenced picking as they come off molt and resume laying.

I'm just thinking on the fly here. If feather picking has a nutritional cause, then why aren't my villains mowing down feathers like maniacs during molt, when feather replacement puts such an intense strain on their systems? Instead, they all knocked off their picking during molt. And before some wise acre pipes up with the observation that there're so many feathers flying around during molt, they don't have to yank them out since they're everywhere, these pickers showed no interest in all the free feathers these past five months.

Still searching for the cause. A long way from figuring out a cure.

 

[Sharon Bee]

Well I gave mine their first feed of FF yesterday. They weren't thrilled with it. They slowly ate it but they weren't impressed.

I also took the advice of putting a couple of drops of blue food colouring into the blood red lotion to prevent feather picking. Rubbed it on the brown hens as they are the worst. At least it was the colour of dark purple. Better than red. I haven't noticed a change yet though. Too soon.