Pecking feathers out.

[juliej1]

I am have 6- 6 month old hens that have just started laying 2 weeks ago. Everybody has been getting along fine, but yesterday I noticed my most dominate girl pecking at one of the lower girl's cheek feathers. Today, I came home to all of her feathers gone on her cheeks and lower beek area. It is not red and appears to be just the feathers plucked out. What is happening? Everything I read talks about being overcrowded causes pecking, but I let the chicken run free in my large backyard. I live in Phoenix, AZ and it it very hot right now. I lost a chicken last night, I think to overheating. I have misters in the yard during the day, but at night they go into their house and I think it was just too hot, but I'm not sure. Today was already a bad day, due to loosing "Gabby", but now I am worried about my other chickens behaviors. My chickens are my pets, I love them. Any ideas?
Thanks,
Julie

 

[Judy]

Besides overcrowding, the other common cause of feather picking is too little protein. Some things to consider, since you did not tell us much about how they live: Is your layer feed at least 16% protein? Do you offer a lot of scratch, or offer it free choice? (Scratch is like candy to them, a nice treat, in small quantities only.) Do you give a lot of veggies and greens, enough to reduce their total protein consumption?

On the FAQ page here there are a couple of good threads about feather picking.

 

[ging3rhoffman]

I was thinking the same thing. My husband brought home a 50 lb bag of wheat seed and they go crazy over it and lots of scrabs.

 

[juliej1]

The feed says "Premium Layer Feed" at 16.5% protein. I have it for them to eat anytime they wish, in a feeder. I do not give them scratch. They used to eat lots of veggies, when they ate my garden up! There's no garden right now, they just pick around through out the yard all day. I try to give them lettuce from the store, but they don't seem to like that. There favorite treat is fresh figs, but that season is over now. So, they pretty much eat the layer feed and whatever they find in the yard. Do you think I need to supplement something else? Thanks for your feedback.
Julie