Repost-Help- Duck suddenly chewing on hen's feathers?

[Miss Lydia]

Yes- I just had a pet sitter over to show her things…she does farm calls and stuff and has taken care of chickens before. I am hoping that her coming once a day is enough…and then hoping to beg my in-laws to check in too since they are only 1/4 mile away (no one understands my concern). I ordered from Crazy K but have no idea how long they take to ship. Fingers crossed. I bring my hen inside when they can't be out free ranging (so they don't get bored and peck her). But otherwise I let her stay in the coop overnight and outside with them if they are in the yard. I limited her veggies because she is obsessed with them- wondering if she is stuffing herself with veggies and treats and not her pellets. So she only gets a little BOSS and some Ultrakibble. She's such a good hen- she laid an egg in the nest box I made out of a cat carrier while inside yesterday morning!

And yes- she has free choice oyster shell- I took one of these...http://www.mypetchicken.com/catalog/Chicken-Supplies/Round-Hanging-Waterer-16-oz-p1396.aspx
and filled it with oyster shell instead and have it hanging up inside the run.

Sounds like you have it all covered. Hopefully the hen saver will get there in time. I odered some things from them too but it's been a few years ago so don't member how long it took. Quality stuff though.

 

[KrisCVT]

Update: Hensaver covered the featherless areas- but feather loss started occurring on shoulders, sides, under wings, etc. I still wasn't sure if it was her feather picking herself or the ducks really doing it. Noticed that she was getting worse and now missing feathers on the back of her neck right about the hensaver too. Got confirmation yesterday when I looked at the group as they were free ranging in the backyard (which they have been every day even when it was cold and when it was raining!) and I saw the 2 ducks had Maple and were going at her feathers- both of them just chewing away at her and she was just taking it. All the other hens were at the other end of the yard dust bathing.
So she is going to be a house chicken until her feathers grown back (it is supposed to get very cold) and we can build a separate duck pen. Frustrated because I thought that when they were free ranging, they would all be content.

Still mad at my ducks. They don't bother my other hens.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Update: Hensaver covered the featherless areas- but feather loss started occurring on shoulders, sides, under wings, etc. I still wasn't sure if it was her feather picking herself or the ducks really doing it. Noticed that she was getting worse and now missing feathers on the back of her neck right about the hensaver too. Got confirmation yesterday when I looked at the group as they were free ranging in the backyard (which they have been every day even when it was cold and when it was raining!) and I saw the 2 ducks had Maple and were going at her feathers- both of them just chewing away at her and she was just taking it. All the other hens were at the other end of the yard dust bathing.
So she is going to be a house chicken until her feathers grown back (it is supposed to get very cold) and we can build a separate duck pen. Frustrated because I thought that when they were free ranging, they would all be content.

Still mad at my ducks. They don't bother my other hens.

Well at least now you know. Is Maple low on pecking order? I don't know how they know this stuff but they do My geese will get one of my EE's down and she just squats for them so far I have intervened and she hasn't lost any feathers. They just seem to know which ones to pick on. I know Maple will be very happy to be inside but just watch they don't start in on another one.