Refeathering problem

[babs1952]

My gold laced Wyandotte molted in November. Today she has grown very few feathers back. I now see that she has gone from the leader to the henpecked chicken. She is denied food and once the bully, now does not stand up for herself. I occasionally grab her and isolate her to feed her, but she squawks about that too. Is she just going to die of starvation?

 

[rosemarythyme]

What does your set up look like? How many feeders do you have and how many birds overall?

 

[babs1952]

I only have 4 chickens and one 7 lb feeder. I let them out of the coop most afternoons and spread around treats-sunflower seed and mealy worms- and my bossy chicken just follows this poor chicken around preventing her from eating whenever she can. My hen pecked chicken is just scared to get in anyone's way.

 

[Friendly_Lurker]

My gold laced Wyandotte molted in November. Today she has grown very few feathers back. I now see that she has gone from the leader to the henpecked chicken. She is denied food and once the bully, now does not stand up for herself. I occasionally grab her and isolate her to feed her, but she squawks about that too. Is she just going to die of starvation?

Yes, keep her isolated. Buy meat bird food. It has very high protein and will help her grow her feathers back. It won’t turn her into a meat bird, though. I like to feed high protein before the fair to make their feathers look nice.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I only have 4 chickens and one 7 lb feeder. I let them out of the coop most afternoons and spread around treats-sunflower seed and mealy worms- and my bossy chicken just follows this poor chicken around preventing her from eating whenever she can. My hen pecked chicken is just scared to get in anyone's way.

Just to clarify, they're actually locked inside the coop most of the time? Is there not a run they can use during the day? Tight confinement will definitely cause behavioral issues.

Another feeder or feed bowl would also help, if placed away from the first (at least 5', 10' and behind an obstacle would be better), but if they're locked inside all day that might not be possible.

 

[aart]

Just to clarify, they're actually locked inside the coop most of the time? Is there not a run they can use during the day?

Yes, this...and pics of your setup, and the birds feathers please. @babs1952

 

[babs1952]

Just to clarify, they're actually locked inside the coop most of the time? Is there not a run they can use during the day? Tight confinement will definitely cause behavioral issues.

Another feeder or feed bowl would also help, if placed away from the first (at least 5', 10' and behind an obstacle would be better), but if they're locked inside all day that might not be possible.

They go into the house at night and to lay in the laying boxes. The run is 16 x 4'. I let them out into the yards around 3 pm so they can free range and then put themselves to bed at dusk. I'll send pics.

 

[babs1952]

Here is the house and run and pics of Hermione.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yeah I can see space being an issue - you have "enough" overall floor space in the run but due to the lack of vertical space and narrowness of the run it'd be very difficult to add extra clutter to the run to 1) give the picked on bird good hiding spots to get away from the others and 2) give the flock something to do other than pick on her. Also because the run is relatively narrow, it makes it impossible for her to pass by another bird without intruding into the other bird's personal space.

A feed bowl at the far end could help a little just to spread the birds out but without adding more space and safe areas she might always be bullied.

 

[aart]

That is some funky feathering, almost look like frizzles.
You didn't happen to worm them while they were molting?
Have read that some wormers can interfere with feather growth.