What in the world?

[unbaked pegga]

I have 2 Orpington hens, one is 5 the other one is 6. At one time I had 5 hens but predation and impacted crop killed the others 3 so now I am down to these 2. At one time the older Orpington (a buff, Lilac) was the alpha hen but she was very meek and docile so by the time I was down to 2 hens, nobody was boss. They got along although the younger hen Scarlett was more boisterous and would squawk for hours, and would hog the treats. She was very annoying. The first of the weekI I was sitting outside with them and I noticed an unusual behavior from Lilac. She was being aggressive and pecking the other Orpington. So unlike her. And she was getting feathers too. So every day since then when I clean out the coop there are feathers in the coop and a lot of feathers too and they belong. to Scarlett. Now she is subdued, hardly any squawking. Still eats well. Lilac is quiet too although she always was. This morning when I went to the coop there seemed to be more feathers than I had ever seen! What could be causing this behavior? This picture I am posting is about 2/3 of what it has been. No way to separate them. Not enough room.

 

[sourland]

Is Scarlet in a heavy molt or is that all because of Lilac ?

 

[The Happster]

That doesn't look like a molt to me.
If the feathers were more evenly spaced and in a favourite spot...sure.

That's a lot of feathers in a small space.

I would consider rehoming Lilac if she keeps at it.

 

[unbaked pegga]

Is Scarlet in a heavy molt or is that all because of Lilac ?

That is from Lilac! I have seen her pecking the other one out in the yard but she is doing just about all of it in the coop at night/early morning. They both finished molting about a month ago. I am feeding them extra protein since this all started

 

[unbaked pegga]

That doesn't look like a molt to me.
If the feathers were more evenly spaced and in a favourite spot...sure.

That's a lot of feathers in a small space.

I would consider rehoming Lilac if she keeps at it.

Oh the feathers in the picture I just scooped up and tossed them out in the yard. That was from overnight in early morning. It’s just crazy I don’t know why her behavior changed like that

 

[RainbowHen]

Maybe some peepers for the aggressor?

 

[unbaked pegga]

They are pretty much completely confined to a fairly big pen and they’re locked up in the Coop/run at night and I have hardware cloth on the floor of the run and everything.So it has to be Lilac picking on Scarlett. She just suddenly started it, maybe she’ll suddenly quit

 

[RainbowHen]

What do you feed them?

 

[unbaked pegga]

What do you feed them?

I give them crumbles for laying hens and a little scratch and whole oats. For the last few days though I have given them a tablespoon of wet cat food extra because of feather loss

 

[RainbowHen]

I give them crumbles for laying hens and a little scratch and whole oats. For the last few days though I have given them a tablespoon of wet cat food extra because of feather loss

I would consider putting them on a higher protein diet like an all flock and give them oyster shell on the side. What is your run like? Can they hide from each other and get out of each other's line of sight?