Pulling Tail Feathers

[LafayetteDon]

Ive notice that most of my girls are missing their tail feathers and they are in the coop.

My girls are 4.5 months old

I have 16 of mixed breeds

The coop is well ventilated and is 12x12 and the run is 30x22

So I think they have plenty of room. They have veggies in the run almost daily to peck at. I made a ladder type roost that of course everyone wants to be at the top but cant not sure if this is where its coming from.

Any suggestions would be appreciate....Ive notived 5 of the 16 have all their tail feathers....could this be strickly a pecking order issue?

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome!
What is their diet? do they have more than one feeder and waterer, in separate areas, and places to be out of sight from each other?
Any actual injuries? Have you looked for mites or lice, at night with your flashlight?
Molting? They do loose and grow new feathers as they grow.
Then if you have one or more feather pecking individuals, try to figure out who they are, and consider removing them from your flock.
Sometimes it's all fine anyway, and sometimes removing one miserable pecking idiot makes all the difference.
Mary

 

[LafayetteDon]

Hey Mary and thank you

The feeder is only in the coop...water is in the run. Yes one of each but can add more if needed. I usually have corn on cob and watermelon in the run for them No injuries....but Ill check for lice mites...( check at night? )

thanks for the help!

 

[LafayetteDon]

diet is laying pellets with grain added by Dumor

 

[Folly's place]

Layer feed is meant to be fed as the only diet, for small breed hens in confinement. Adding other lower protein goodies, and having youngsters still growing, likely makes them crave more protein, and they are also getting high calcium in that diet, meant for actively laying hens. Try changing to an all flock or chick diet, in the 18% to 20% protein range, and leave out the lower value extras.
Mites especially are best seen at night when they are roosting. You look at their skin around the vents, under wings, and neck, with a small flashlight or head lamp. Lice are small, and mites are TINY moving specks.
Mary

 

[aart]

Maybe they are going thru their last juvenile molt?
Have you seen the birds pull out tail feathers?