Little stinkers!

[tn_artist]

So I sat outside in the mosquitoes for two hours to determine who is pecking everybodys tail feathers out.
The answer: All the bantams except one!
The EEs and standard Cochins are not. The Rosecomb Bantam is not.
Pickers: frizzle, five d'Uccle
How do I break this when there are so many doing it?
Edited to delete seabrights. I just sold them!

 

[Rammy]

Do they have enough room to run around? If they are confined to a small space they will pick on each other and it can continue into cannabilism. If you can give them treats, toys to play with, hang cabbage or other veggies, swings, expand thier roaming area, to name a few suggestions.

 

[tn_artist]

Do they have enough room to run around? If they are confined to a small space they will pick on each other and it can continue into cannabilism. If you can give them treats, toys to play with, hang cabbage or other veggies, swings, expand thier roaming area, to name a few suggestions.

They are in a 20x15 pen, and free range every other day (until school starts back)
I did get rid of five chickens Saturday, and 7 today. Three more are leaving tomorrow. That will leave 6 d'Uccle, 4 EE, and 4 OE bantams. They have low, medium and high perches, and the rafters. A dust bath, tree and tall roots to hide around. There are two curved branches that are like moving perches, sort of like a swing. I just want them to have tail feathers! I have even sprayed blu-kote on them, hoping the purple color will make it harder to see the feathers.

 

[Rammy]

They are in a 20x15 pen, and free range every other day (until school starts back)
I did get rid of five chickens Saturday, and 7 today. Three more are leaving tomorrow. That will leave 6 d'Uccle, 4 EE, and 4 OE bantams. They have low, medium and high perches, and the rafters. A dust bath, tree and tall roots to hide around. There are two curved branches that are like moving perches, sort of like a swing. I just want them to have tail feathers! I have even sprayed blu-kote on them, hoping the purple color will make it harder to see the feathers.

Sounds like they have enough space and/or things to occupy them. Did this start when you started getting rid of some? Or was this going on prior? Im wondering now if with all the changes that its everybody trying to establish where they are in the pecking order and whos going to be top hen. Hopefully they will work it out soon so thier tail feathers grow back.

 

[tn_artist]

Sounds like they have enough space and/or things to occupy them. Did this start when you started getting rid of some? Or was this going on prior? Im wondering now if with all the changes that its everybody trying to establish where they are in the pecking order and whos going to be top hen. Hopefully they will work it out soon so thier tail feathers grow back.

They've been doing it for weeks. I'm hoping that with fewer in the pen, that they will knock it off.

 

[Rammy]

They've been doing it for weeks. I'm hoping that with fewer in the pen, that they will knock it off.

 

[Folly's place]

Also, what are they eating? A low protein diet, or an unbalanced diet, will contribute to this problem.
Mary

 

[tn_artist]

Also, what are they eating? A low protein diet, or an unbalanced diet, will contribute to this problem.
Mary

18% protein grower/finisher with scratch feed to help give them something to do. They also get fruit and veggie scraps and shrub trimmings. They also free range every other day.

 

[Folly's place]

Their total protein intake might be low; try no scratch feed for a while, and maybe a 20% protein diet too.
Mary

 

[tn_artist]

Their total protein intake might be low; try no scratch feed for a while, and maybe a 20% protein diet too.
Mary

I will definitely give it a try! They also eat the feathers they pluck, if they aren't too big. Is that a lack of a nutrient too?