Separating 7 week old chickens feather plucking and eating

[kittycast]

I don't know if this is where I should post this. Last week I noticed 2 chickens with bald spot on backs and under wings at first I thought they were getting new feathers or somthing. I have been using DE. I even gave them a DE dust bath for mites and lice. They were still picking at themselves. One girl Dot started to eating her feathers. I treated with Neosporin. I then noticed the two the most bald especially Dot were losing weight. I gave them a Neem oil and dishsoap bath even though I have checked for mice and lice and don't see anything. I also decided to worm them with Wazine. They seem to be doing better however; another chick, Spring is plucking and eating feathers. She has always poked my other 3 chickens since they were little and is getting more aggressive, so I have separated her. I feed them 20% chick feed. Also have started giving boiled egg and yogurt and putting cayenne in feed. How long should I separate her for. Any thoughts or advice would be great as these are my first chickens.

 

[RendonRoo]

How old are these chicks. This sounds normal if they are only a couple of weeks old. I would lay off the meds and give them a little mashed up boiled egg. They will eat feathers for the protein. Bald spots are not unusual when they are growing. Unless you see blood it's not usually anything to worry about. Good Luck and welcome to BYC

 

[kittycast]

The are 6-7 weeks old. The weight loss freaked me out, they looked really boney. I thought feather eating was bad?

 

[cmom]

I have seen my birds eat feathers too. I have 1-yr and 2-yr olds and chicks on the way.

 

[kittycast]

I thought feather eating leads to cannibalism?