I think I found a miracle cure for feather picking

[azygous]

Sharon, have you created a photo album on your profile page? I find that uploading photos from your computer's photo application to your BYC page is easiest. Then all you have to do is copy the pic from there to a comment box.

 

[Sharon Bee]

Azygous
No I haven't done that.

 

[azygous]

I've been at wits end with my four Sussex feather-pickers. They have continued to mow feathers despite all wearing Bumpa-bits. It hasn't even slowed them down. Tonight I watched as one of them shot out her beak and snatched a feather off one of the Welsummers as she was running by. It was kind of like seeing a frog snatch an insect flying by with its super fast tongue. Then soon after, another one jumped onto poor Flo's back and was ripping feathers off her back until I threw the cat poop scooper at her that I was holding.

I mulled it over what I could possibly do that I haven't done already. They all wore pinless peepers prior to having the Bumpa-bits, so nothing to be gained by going back to them. But then I remembered I had the 35 mm Bumpa-bits that I had bought from Europe through Amazon.com. I had rejected them as being too long, and I didn't think any of my problem hens could learn to eat with them extending so far beyond their beaks. The ones they were wearing were the 30 mm size. So they all got their bits changed over to the longer ones tonight.

I'm willing to bet that these ornery hens will adjust in no time. The real question is going to be, will they learn to pick feathers wearing these longer bits?

Stay tuned.

 

[zinia8]

@azygous
would you or have you let your feather picking chickens brood and hatch out chicks? My main feather picker is broody big time and I have entertained the thought of letting sit and hatch.

 

[DimondaleBergs]

Here is one of mine. They are finally outside for the first time since winter. Hopefully they will pick feathers less. You can see her bare butt.

Oh Sharon Bee!
You've just made my day! This is how my girls are looking...all except TWO who are pristine! I thought I must be a horrible chicken mom to let my babies get like this. Now to figure out what to do to stop it.

 

[DimondaleBergs]

Hi All,
My chickens have stopped picking feathers. !! Yaa HOooo.. After doing lots and lots of research I realized that they needed more protein..I gave them a little extra in the form of scrambled eggs, cooked chicken every other day...Whaaa Laaaaaa no more picking. I stopped for a little while and Honey, the main culprit started picking feathers again, she does lay 1 egg every day... soo now that the snow has melted and there is more to forage I give less ,1 every 3-5 days and it seems to be still working. I will stop when Spring really gets here and see what happens!! Hope this helps! OBTW I have six wonderful girls, 2 Auss, 2 Partridge Cochin, 1 Golden
Lace Wing Cochin and 1 Americana. They all free range. Happy Spring !!

Do you just give them one egg for all six? Or one a piece? Thanks

 

[DimondaleBergs]

Where would I find the bumpa-bits and peepers? I've searched Amazon.com with no luck :-(

 

[Sharon Bee]

Well, as an update, my chickens have their peepers on, they are being let outside every day and they are STILL PECKING EACH OTHER!! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Tonight I noticed one was even bleeding! Their poor bare butts are getting redder. I just don't know what to do to make them stop. I give them lots of good food and greens. I have been throwing them grass and dandelions which they love. I just don't know. Very frustrating. I feel sorry for them too.

 

[Sharon Bee]

I haven't found a cure yet. They are STILL picking each other's feathers!! Awful. Poor things. I thought once they were let outside in their run, all would settle down but not so. The browns are picked on the most.

 

[Sharon Bee]

Do you just give them one egg for all six? Or one a piece? Thanks

Why don't they make layer feed with enough protein??? That's what I would like to know!!