No feathers on the neck

[Rusty66211]

Ok , so my chicken have no feathers on the front of their neck and even though try to come in the chicken seem to pluck them out or something. It is just weird.It is always the same chickens all different breeds but then others from that breed don't have that problem. What in the world is it ?

 

[CoopCrazy]

Sounds like you have a picker....I would try to find the offender and either rehome or cull...

 

[bturbo87]

from what ive found on here picking can be cause by either chickens being too crowded, or protein deficiency, try giving treats high in protein, i know mne go crazy for scrambles eggs stirred up with some plain yogurt and a little cracked corn, you can also grind up the egg shells from the scrambles and cook them with the eggs for a calcium boost.

 

[Rusty66211]

they get a loaf of bread for a treat one loaf for 25 chicken and they get the egglayer feed and their shells are really hard. so how can I add more protein without alot of work.

 

[azygous]

When my Light Brahma had that problem, I discovered she was picking her own neck feathers out as soon as the pin feathers came in. I cut the foot off an old sock and made her a neck gator. But she quickly removed it.

I sewed two elastic loops onto the bottom and slipped it over her head and the elastic loops under her wing pits. That did the trick. The feathers grew back and I removed the gator and she's not gone back to the annoying habit.

If I see the problem coming back, I'll make a neck gator that velcros in the back since slipping it over the head is hard to do.

I also had some success with putting Vick's mixed with grape-flavored kool-aid on the picked area. It stains, though, and is very, very greasy.

Feeding tuna and cat food to increase the protein intake also helped discourage the picking.

 

[Rusty66211]

so can I feed tuna in water or cat food tuna and is it soft cat food or the hard stuff?

 

[DTRM30]

You could also just hard boil or scramble up left over eggs - or some of the ones you collect. No cost - not much extra work.
Just boil up the eggs, mash them shells and all - and the girls will love them. Extra protein and extra calcium (the shells).

 

[sourland]

Dry cat food will also increase the protein intake. The problem hens are most likely those that are in the best condition. They or she are/is plucking feathers from the others.

 

[MareeZoCool]

Quote:
Pick up a can of sardines, they're much less expensive!

 

[Rusty66211]

thanks for all the cool advice you guys are great