I wonder if a sprinkle of cayenne pepper on the tail feathers might just discourage feather picking?
No. Birds don't taste the hot of pepper like mammals do. That's why they put cayenne in bird seed to keep the squirrels from eating it.
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
I wonder if a sprinkle of cayenne pepper on the tail feathers might just discourage feather picking?
True, I get my hen saddles Here (Etsy) great saddles, very good quality, can order the size you need. she'll even try to make them in colors you want. I've ordered black and while, and brown ones for my SLW's and EE.You could try Rooster Booster Pick-no-mor. In fact, I just spread some onto the back of a Speckled Sussex that is constantly being chewed by her three mates. She's molting right now, and they're systematically relieving her of her back pin feathers, leaving bloody stubs. So far, it seems to be working. This poor hen only gets to look decent for about a month out of the year directly following molt. After that, the other three in her pen pick her body ragged.
Every year, I vow to make her a saddle she can't get out of so she can keep her feathers, but I always procrastinate and the three have her new feathers chewed up before I know it. But a saddle is another option you might try. It's worked splendidly in the past to protect a picking victim.
Here is the infallible answer to stop feather picking. http://www.food.com/recipe/chicken-and-dumplings-72963
Jim Rea