my faverolle rooster feather eating

[JusChickenItout]

hi, my 6month plus old rooster Faverolle rooster (rino)stalks the two hen that are also faverolle, at the featers on there feet. and pecks them off and eats them. and constantly harrassed them to the point they would hide in the corner to get away from him and are now very timid hens . so i seperated them, there feathers grew back. i put the rooster with other standard hens and he never even touched them. so i added the girls back in last night and in the morning both in the corner ! scared! each of them on one leg blood and feathers pecked off.

he gets plenty of what he needs, will rino grow out of this? or will he forever peck there feather off? as i need him for fertile eggs and he hasn't started crowing yet or mate and the 2 hens haven't layed yet due to stress from feather eater Rino!

 

[Judy]

Feather picking can be very difficult to break. I would separate him for at least a week. Be sure he is getting plenty of protein, preferable including a little animal sourced protein. Meantime, read up on the various approaches people have used here. Here are a few threads (from our FAQ page) but there are plenty more

My chickens are pecking/eating each others' feathers:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=34705
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=31291
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=36139
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=30486

Also see this thread

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/697052/i-think-i-found-a-miracle-cure-for-feather-picking/0_20

 

[JusChickenItout]

hi thanks, will try and fix him. hope he decides to grow out of it. decided to let him roam fee range with my other roosters. they all seem to get along. 1 acre of bliss instead of locked in a cage.!

 

[keesmom]

Wow, I've had the occasional Faverolles hen who wants to pluck beards out, but never a male! What are you feeding them? I agree with flockwatcher on making sure he has enough protein.