picking/pecking other chickens

[Hamiam]

I've been giving mine a flake of alfalfa a week to scratch thru. They love it!

 

[hkid22]

Ditch the heat lamp, no matter what the temp. Too much heat can cause feather picking. My birds have just come through a cold streak with night time temps down to minus 14*F that lasted for at least 3 weeks. No supplemental heat, and they are fine.

They are coming into a high production period, and the cool temps require even more nutrition. If you are giving them ANY snack foods (scratch grains, kitchen scraps or any thing other than high protein snacks,) that is diluting their nutrition. I would put them on at least 18% protein or add some high protein to their 16% layer feed. Give them some stress busters, like a bale of hay to shred, a few bags of leaves or other material to dig through. You could toss in a hand full of kitty kibble for them to search for.

What do you consider high protein snacks for your chickens?!
member: 30158"]. If your birds are[/QUOTE]

 

[hkid22]

Ditch the heat lamp, no matter what the temp. Too much heat can cause feather picking. My birds have just come through a cold streak with night time temps down to minus 14*F that lasted for at least 3 weeks. No supplemental heat, and they are fine.

They are coming into a high production period, and the cool temps require even more nutrition. If you are giving them ANY snack foods (scratch grains, kitchen scraps or any thing other than high protein snacks,) that is diluting their nutrition. I would put them on at least 18% protein or add some high protein to their 16% layer feed. Give them some stress busters, like a bale of hay to shred, a few bags of leaves or other material to dig through. You could toss in a hand full of kitty kibble for them to search for.

I also had only had the lamp on when it dropped below 5 degrees. For about a week or two there we were having weather that didn't make it past 10 degrees during the day, with wind chills of -20. Is that a bad idea? It hasn't been on since the day I noticed the pecking/ missing feathers. It started warming up around 20-25 so I haven't had it on since. It won't get cold again until next week with the highs in the 20's and the lows around 5.

 

[lazy gardener]

My flock has been fine with the cold snap temps of minus 14 at night, and minus 5 during daytime. About 4 weeks of this weather. No heat. I believe we are through the worst of the Polar weather.

 

[hkid22]

My flock has been fine with the cold snap temps of minus 14 at night, and minus 5 during daytime. About 4 weeks of this weather. No heat. I believe we are through the worst of the Polar weather.

Thats amazing! I will keep it off then, thank you! Any suggestions on high protein snacks?

 

[Hamiam]

Thats amazing! I will keep it off then, thank you! Any suggestions on high protein snacks?

Scrambled or hard boiled eggs, salmon, tuna, mackerel, mealworms, etc. I believe you can find a list via search. Is it possible they aren't picking out the feathers but molting? If your not sure, post a pic for us.

 

[hkid22]

Scrambled or hard boiled eggs, salmon, tuna, mackerel, mealworms, etc. I believe you can find a list via search. Is it possible they aren't picking out the feathers but molting? If your not sure, post a pic for us.

I feed them veggies, fruits, meal worms and occasionally cracked corn along with the layer pellets. I do not believe they are molting. I watch the one constantly puck feathers out of the other. Here is a picture to show you what she looks like right now.

 

[Hamiam]

I feed them veggies, fruits, meal worms and occasionally cracked corn along with the layer pellets. I do not believe they are molting. I watch the one constantly puck feathers out of the other. Here is a picture to show you what she looks like right now.

I really think the Blue Kote will help stop this behavior. If you catch her in the act again, pick her up & carry her around for a little while. Or put her in chicken time out. I have a dog carrier & have put a pullet inside it for 10 minutes or so. Before letting her back with the flock. Not sure if it taught her, but it made me feel better. The Blue Kote was the most effective in my experience.

 

[Hamiam]

One more thing, the layer feed is normally 16% protein. I prefer 20% flock raiser & have an open container of oyster shell on the side for the layers to self regulate their calcium intake. The girls that aren't laying yet, don't need the calcium. Also when chickens molt & sometimes stop laying, calcium isn't needed then either. Your girl could use the extra protein while she replaces the stolen feathers.

 

[Folly's place]

Your diet could be deficient in proteins; layer feed plus all that other lower protein stuff isn't a good mix. Only the meal worms are a protein treat in this mix. If you feed an all-flock feed that's higher in a balanced protein mix, then the snacks will work out better.
Mary