Plucking home remedy

[Sparrowsong98]

I have some chickens that are really getting plucked, but I dont want to buy a commercial product if I can make something to fix it myself.
Any ideas?

 

[sourland]

Do a search on Pin Less Peepers - they are relatively inexpensive, and they work. More space, increased protein anything to decrease boredom MAY work, but it is a tough habit to break.

 

[azygous]

Years ago I came up with a concoction that closely resembles Rooster Booster Pick-no-mor.

I combined Vick's with powdered grape Kool-aid (no sugar) with a dash of Pepto Bismol.

 

[azygous]

Do a search on Pin Less Peepers - they are relatively inexpensive, and they work. More space, increased protein anything to decrease boredom MAY work, but it is a tough habit to break.

Pinless peepers are really the only thing that has helped fight this problem in my flock, but not all pickers stop the behavior while wearing them.

I have a Speckled Sussex that pick feathers regardless wheter they wear pinless peepers. However, the young EE hen who is currently wearing them has stopped the behavior when she wears the peepers. Recently I removed them after she'd been wearing them for three months. She went right back to picking feathers, so I put them back on. She has since stopped the behavior.

None of my pickers eat the feathers. It's seems they do it out of compulsion, not due to a dietary deficiency.

All flock members are potential victims so putting a non-picking ointment on 22 chickens isn't feasible.

 

[Eggcessive]

It can become a habit in a flock, but if you spend time with your chickens, you may be able to identify the pecker(s.) They can be temporarily be separated, re-homed, or made into dinner. Some breeds can be more prone to feather picking. First look at your coop area, make sure they have enough room, get at least 16% protein (20%is better,) and get them outside to roam daily. Pinless peepers may be an option you want to try as well.

 

[Sparrowsong98]

It can become a habit in a flock, but if you spend time with your chickens, you may be able to identify the pecker(s.) They can be temporarily be separated, re-homed, or made into dinner. Some breeds can be more prone to feather picking. First look at your coop area, make sure they have enough room, get at least 16% protein (20%is better,) and get them outside to roam daily. Pinless peepers may be an option you want to try as well.

They are all habit peckers. 29 bad birds.

 

[azygous]

A long time ago, here on BYC, we were talking about this topic, and whether pinless peepers worked. Someone posted a photo of a dozen, or maybe more, chickens lined up on perches in their coop every single one wearing pinless peepers. It was a royal hoot! They did mention that in spite of all the peepers, they were still picking.

 

[Sparrowsong98]

A long time ago, here on BYC, we were talking about this topic, and whether pinless peepers worked. Someone posted a photo of a dozen, or maybe more, chickens lined up on perches in their coop every single one wearing pinless peepers. It was a royal hoot! They did mention that in spite of all the peepers, they were still picking.

Well, the problem has gotten worse. The pen my polish pullets were in was held shut by a slightly rusty but still bendable piece of wire, since the old latch had long since broken off. The wire snapped and two polish chicks escaped. They were chased around the chicken yard ( I assume, since I was away all evening) and one was badly pecked. They wound up in two pens we built alongside the main ones, which were used for quarantining large bunches of birds, as well as raising meat birds. It has been a while since we used them, and chickens have scratched holes big enough for chicks to fit through. I came home and got the chicks out and replaced the wire and treated the one chick's wounds with iodine. She is acting fine, just holding her neck a bit stiff where she was pecked. They will not go on playdates until she is better though. And I think if things are not better by then, I might rehome the pullets, because if my birds keep at them the way they are now, I am afraid the chicks might wind up dead.