STILL PECKING/EATING FEATHERS.......additional question

[MontanaChickenLady]

Will pullets that peck/eat feathers continue that behavior as they grow and become chickens? Or worse yet........are they inclined to be egg eaters? I have two Buff pullets that are relentless toward one of the other 3 pullets they've been raised with. I've done everything I can think of and that has been suggested to me and can't get them to change. I have to keep them separate from all of the others.......and they don't peck on each other (what's up with that?). I didn't have this problem at all with my first flock and am so disappointed that these Buffs are doing this and I can't break them of it.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I looked at what I assume was your other thread about pecking and still need more info.

How many birds are in that group, what age and what is the square footage?
More importantly, specifically what makes up their entire diet? protein % in the grower ration, treats, grains etc..

 

[Abeall]

I had this same problem not to long ago. I took the injured one's out and put them in their own cave with blue kote medicine on their injuries. When I introduced them again, they started the same thing. Come to find out, my cage they were in was too small. I moved them into a massive run, and they couldn't be happier. As long as they have sufficient space, and a decent quality food, they should quit.

Sent from my LGL35G using Tapatalk 2

 

[MontanaChickenLady]

The chicks have been getting the medicated feed that is recommended (Purina Start & Grow)...and the same stuff I fed to my very first flock. I've added protein to everyone's diet (tofu, cottage cheese, canadian bacon) and everyone also gets a scratch grain. For treats they get raisins (they all LOVE them) as well as dried meal worms. I have a compound that is 12' x 12' x 7" tall. The actual hen house is smallish but there is room for all to roost and sleep. There weren't any pecking/feather eating issues when it was the 5 of them in a dog crate (two halves butted up to each other) and the one being MOST pecked now was the head chicken when it was just the 5 chicks. But the two Buff pullets were pecking feathers on all 3 pullets when I let them out yesterday to test things again. I even made an apron for the one that is MOST pecked and they still went for her trying to get her tail feathers.....they drew blood again...so back to the separate area for them. I have a total of 8 birds (3 hens that are 2 years old and the 5 newer birds that are 11 weeks old).