Rooster picking feathers around the hens vent.

[7L Farm]

What should I do? I noticed him & one of the hens picking the feathers around the vent.Only around the vent about the size of a fifty cent piece. Its picked perfectly round. Not all the girls just about though. I caught one earlier but she wasn't pecked. Please advice me on what to do. The hens are around 8 months old. The rooster picks the feathers & feeds them to the hens.

 

[DTRM30]

I've heard that feather eating can be a sign of not getting enough protein. I tend to cook up excess eggs and feed them back to the girls every now and then. It's a great treat, takes care of excess eggs, and is good for them all at the same time.

Maybe someone else will have more info for you. Watch them carefully though, excessive picking can cause damage, and any bleeding will attract all of them to pick/peck and cause a large injury in a hurry.

 

[7L Farm]

Quote:
I appreciate your input. I feed them 17% laying pellots, boss, meat, veggies from the garden, eggs trust me I wish it was protein they needed. My concern is why do they only pick the feathers around the vent. Should, I move the roo to another coop are what. Are they sick ? They seem fine their eating, drinking taking dirt bathe everything is normal . Matter of fact I got 9 eggs from my flock of ten hens. Best day yet. I'd sure hate for anything to happen to them.

 

[DTRM30]

Hmmmm - OK - that would have been the easy thing to fix, but looks like you already are good in that department.
Hope you can figure it out ! Little buggers are darn confusing sometimes in they way they act and what they do.

Maybe someone else will know of another reason ....

 

[7L Farm]

Guess no one can help. I put blue kote where the feathers are missing. Hope I did the right thing.

 

[jasonm11]

maybe he is getting poked back and does not like it

 

[7L Farm]

Quote:
I think you hit the nail on the head. I just hate seeing this behaviour. Dang , chickens.

 

[7L Farm]

Any other advice?

 

[7L Farm]

As stated I put blue kote where the feathers were picked & looked for mites didn't see any. Will the blue kote keep them from pecking more feathers. I keep asking because the spots are getting bigger. What to do ? I'm a bit concerned because if this behaviour isn't stopped they will be feather less. How do I stop this?

 

[7L Farm]

bump