My pullets are losing their feathers

[oceansunset73]

Hi. I'm new here. This is my first time raising chickens and I am in need of some advice.
I have 7 beautiful Rhode Island Red pullets, they are all 11 weeks old.

I just noticed the other day that they are all losing their feathers on their backsides, near their tails. When watching them, they all seem to be chasing and pecking each other, pulling out and eating each other's feathers. I can't figure if it's:

1. Stress due to the heat; it's been over 100 for the past few weeks. (However they have a shaded run, I add ice to their water container, I freeze water filled plastic milk jugs, and put them out there so they have some "air conditioning" to lean up against, and I give them ice cold watermelon. So I can't see that being it, could it?)

2. I just changed their food last week from Chick Starter to Grower. Could that be it because it's less Protein?

3. Boredom? I have a hanging basket treat holder, a couple of stumps in their run, dust bath, and a branch to perch on. Are they still bored even with all this?

Even though they are not free range, they have lots of room to run around, the run is huge.

I put Pick No More Cover Up Lotion on them this morning, seemed to help for a while, but in the late afternoon they started doing it again.

Help! I love my babies so much. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much.

 

[kitkat5505]

You might want to check for mites too.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

.... This is my first time raising chickens and I am in need of some advice.
I have 7 .... Rhode Island Red pullets, they are all 11 weeks old.

I just noticed the other day that they are all losing their feathers on their backsides, near their tails. When watching them, they all seem to be chasing and pecking each other, pulling out and eating each other's feathers. I can't figure if it's:

1. Stress due to the heat; it's been over 100 for the past few weeks. (However they have a shaded run.....
2. I just changed their food last week from Chick Starter to Grower. Could that be it because it's less Protein?
3. Boredom? I have a hanging basket treat holder, a couple of stumps in their run, dust bath, and a branch to perch on. Are they still bored even with all this?....

!. 2. & 3. will all result in in feather picking and cannibalism.

 

[mobius]

They may be working out the pecking order at this age in a quite destructive way. Timing from weather and all is poor, I would up their protein and give them something else to pick at: rotten stumps, a hanging cabbage tether ball, flock block (which you can make yourself, lots of good recipes), mirrors, a plastic water bottle you punch holes in and fill with scratch....try searching for boredom busters.

I understand you are doing all you can...maybe just adding a few interventions will help them settle down.

 

[oceansunset73]

Thank you so much for the responses. I will check for mites and will work on more boredom busters this weekend to give them something else to peck at.