Rooster pecking out his own back feathers

[DelightfulChick]

Hello! I'm actually new to this site and just joined today. Over the past two years, it's funny when I wanted an answer to something I always found one on this site, but never joined until now. The community on this site seems amazing. Anyway, I do have a problem. I have one Rhode Island Red, I BELIEVE he is a rooster. He is almost 17 weeks old. When we got him (because we did not raise his from an egg or a peep, we got him when he was about 13 weeks old), he was missing all his back feathers from pecking. As he healed in the first week, he did it again and makes himself bleed. He just keeps doing it. As soon as it starts healing up, he just goes at it again it seems. I never attempted to put anything on the spot, and am not sure if I should or not. If so, what should I put on his back to prevent this? Or is this just something he will grow out of? I never had this problem before, and it is himself who is doing it. I will try to put pictures, but at the time it's not so bad. He just again this morning started pecking again after it was healed some. Any helpful information will be much appreciated. Thank you!

 

[Blackberry18]

Hello! I'm actually new to this site and just joined today. Over the past two years, it's funny when I wanted an answer to something I always found one on this site, but never joined until now. The community on this site seems amazing. Anyway, I do have a problem. I have one Rhode Island Red, I BELIEVE he is a rooster. He is almost 17 weeks old. When we got him (because we did not raise his from an egg or a peep, we got him when he was about 13 weeks old), he was missing all his back feathers from pecking. As he healed in the first week, he did it again and makes himself bleed. He just keeps doing it. As soon as it starts healing up, he just goes at it again it seems. I never attempted to put anything on the spot, and am not sure if I should or not. If so, what should I put on his back to prevent this? Or is this just something he will grow out of? I never had this problem before, and it is himself who is doing it. I will try to put pictures, but at the time it's not so bad. He just again this morning started pecking again after it was healed some. Any helpful information will be much appreciated. Thank you!

Chickens will peck out and eat their own feathers to make up for loss of protein. Make sure the food has 16%-18% protein, and you could try giving extra.

 

[Akrnaf2]

Chickens will peck out and eat their own feathers to make up for loss of protein. Make sure the food has 16%-18% protein, and you could try giving extra. 

I agree. Protein deficiency can cause feather pecking, but you also consider stress that also can cause this condition. So you need to feed them white food that have 17% protein an all the needed vitamins, and decrees the stress in the floc, free range them, give them a pile of compost, good food,clean water, some toys, and if you can decrees the number of your chicken if you can( maybe the place is to crowded ).

 

[DelightfulChick]

Okay, I will definitely try feeding him more protein. The food I'm currently feeding him has 16% protein. He's in with 4 other chickens in a fenced in 75 square foot area. Their coop is a good size too, but not sure the exact size of it. I will try feeding him more protein if that doesn't work then I'll definitely try the other things you said Akrnaf2. I appreciate the info.

 

[DelightfulChick]

He may be stressed though too, idk. Just recently like a week ago one of the members of the flock was killed by an animal. They were all very scared, and I felt horrible. Since then we built a better coop and lock them in at night. All the chickens seem to be okay though, but maybe he's still stressed and in shock because of that?

 

[Blackberry18]

He may be stressed though too, idk. Just recently like a week ago one of the members of the flock was killed by an animal. They were all very scared, and I felt horrible. Since then we built a better coop and lock them in at night. All the chickens seem to be okay though, but maybe he's still stressed and in shock because of that?

That could be a factor, too. You could try adding an electrolyte to the water to relieve stress.

 

[Akrnaf2]

That could be a factor, too. You could try adding an electrolyte to the water to relieve stress. 

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