need some advice from you!

[riverhomela]

having a bit of a problem with one of my hens. She is loosing her tail feathers, and the other chickens are pecking on her until she bleeds. We seperated her from the other chickens and she seems fine. She is eating/drinking, laying an egg about every day or two, no coughing, sneezing or wheezing. Is she molting? how would I know if it is mites or lice? how do I treat lice or mites? Appreciate your responses. One other chicken is loosing feathers on her behind, but not being pecked on. She is still in the pen with the other chickens. The rest of them look and act fine.
I did dust the chicken pen with seven dust., raked the floor of the pen and removed all hay and scraps.

riverhomela

 

[Catalina]

This is called feather picking. Try this article http://www.ehow.com/how_2336888_prevent-feather-picking-chickens.html

It explains feather picking and ways to prevent it.

Basically, there are 2 main reasons for feather picking - not enough protein in the birds diet or the birds are over crowded/bored.

Ok 2 1/2 reasons.....sometimes they just don't like one bird - she's new or too low on the pecking order.

Hope that helps!