Picking on frizzle?

[Renn]

hello everyone! We have 10 chickens, 7 are full size chickens, then we have 2 bantam silkies and a bantam frizzle Cochin which was a surprise because she was supposed to be a silkie lol. They are all almost 30 weeks old and have been together sense babies and we have never had a problem. Within the last week and a half I noticed the tiny frizzle Cochin had a small bald patch on her back, which has now escalated to her whole back being bare and having broken feathers and wounds. I've seen 2 chickens pull out a feather, and I've been finding feathers of hers everywhere in the coop. What can I do to help her?

 

[sbhkma]

What kind of feed (brand and protein level) are you feeding?
What is the size of your coop & run?
Does the cochin have any other health issues going on? Eating and drinking ok?

 

[Renn]

Thanks for the reply! We switched a couple weeks ago to purina layena crumbles with 16% protein, the coop is a little bigger then 8X4, then the run is 25x12, plus the addition space under the coop which is probably another 50 square feet. I have not notice any other health issues with the frizzle Cochin, she is eating and drinking great, but has been staying away from the rest of the flock a little bit. I often find her on the opposite side as the others now which I'm assuming is due to them pulling her feathers.

 

[sbhkma]

Well space doesn't appear to be a concern. It seems that the feather picking started right around the time you switched to 16% layer, so perhaps go to a higher protein feed like Purina All Flock at 20%. Sometimes it's lack of protein that starts this, then they discover it's fun and they like eating feathers! Dang birds anyway. I always use all flock and then just keep a bowl of oyster shell full at all times so whoever needs the calcium can get it freely.

 

[Renn]

Thanks I can defienetly switch their feed, is there anything I can do in the mean time though? They are not leaving her alone and her back is horrible. I sprayed the blue kote on her yesterday and the other hens STILL chased her and picked at her to the point where she is bleeding. Besides the food and blue kote is there anything else I can do to get them to leave her alone?

 

[sbhkma]

She needs to be kept away from them. If you have a wire dog crate you can place in the kennel for several days so she can heal up and they can still see each other but get out of the habit of picking on her that would help. Bringing her in the house to heal would work but then you still have to "reprogram" the flock to accept her. A See But No Touch approach.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Are you giving them scratch grains? Too much scratch grains can make chickens hyper. I agree that she needs to be separated or they will pick her real bad. Had it happen once. Wasn’t pretty, but thankfully the hen recovered fully. She got a seperate coop from the others and 2 black silkie friends to keep her company.

 

[Renn]

She needs to be kept away from them. If you have a wire dog crate you can place in the kennel for several days so she can heal up and they can still see each other but get out of the habit of picking on her that would help. Bringing her in the house to heal would work but then you still have to "reprogram" the flock to accept her. A See But No Touch approach.

Thanks for the suggestion. We do have a large dog corral type dog kennel that I set up and placed in the run. I have put her in the along with some food and water. How long should I keep her in her own pen for? Do I still put her in the coop with the others at night? Thanks for the help everyone I appreciate it!

 

[Renn]

Are you giving them scratch grains? Too much scratch grains can make chickens hyper. I agree that she needs to be separated or they will pick her real bad. Had it happen once. Wasn’t pretty, but thankfully the hen recovered fully. She got a seperate coop from the others and 2 black silkie friends to keep her company.

No we have not introduced any scratch grains, they eat there chicken food and then we throw in the occasional scraps and the occasional cabbage ball to keep them busy.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

This may be a long shot but... maybe your hens sense that she has something wrong with her and they are trying to get rid of her so that she doesn’t pass it on to offspring (regardless if you have a rooster or not). This drive to keep the species genetically pure is found in a lot of animals. A female rat will eat her own pups if she senses that they have a defect.