Why is my rooster chewing his tail feathers?

[CS-Flock]

Organic Oscar doesn't contain any soap, parabens, sulfates, artificial fragrances or dyes, or petroleum based ingredients, but it does have tea tree oil and peppermint, which I've been told is a good repellent. Their baths are only given every other month, just like with dogs, because of their natural oils. I checked him this morning and I didn't see any signs of parasites, could it maybe be a calcium deficiency?

 

[JanetMarie]

Chickens need protein for feather growth. When mine are molting I give them some organic grass fed beef about once a week, and sunflower seeds are mixed in with their food. If there's extra eggs they get those also, scrambled. If roosters are given too much calcium it could result in gout.

 

[JanetMarie]

Another repellent is rosemary oil (food grade and diluted 50:1 with light olive oil) that I recently started using on my cat. Now that he is privy to what is going on, he will run off my lap shaking his paws. I haven't thought of that to put on my chickens though, until now. Maybe could be used in addition to diatomaceous earth.

 

[DaveOmak]

I'm adding something here that I have no idea if it will work, but..... Howard Butcher Block Conditioner....

Food Grade Mineral Oil & Natural Waxes

• Exceeds U.S. FDA regulations for direct and indirect contact with food
• Revitalizing blend prevents drying and cracking of hardwoods and bamboo
• Natural waxes provide another level of protection
• Ideal for salad bowls, wooden spoons and wooden toys

Specialized wood care for butcher blocks, cutting boards, wooden bowls and utensils. The penetrating quality of food-grade mineral oil along with the water-resistant traits of beeswax and carnauba wax rejuvenates the wood and prevents drying and cracking. The natural waxes help repair knife marks and protect the wood by keeping the mineral oil in and the moisture out.

On the label it says it's stabilized with vitamin E.... Daughter uses it as lip balm...

Might work for combs and feet.....

 

[CS-Flock]

Oops, just read my last reply and I meant to put *protein, not calcium. Is there any specific type of supplement you recommend?

 

[JanetMarie]

I don't know of a protein supplement, just extra protein food. Some people feed cat food a few times a week. I would recommend one that is high quality, meat based with no artificial colorings or flavorings.

 

[aart]

I use meat scraps from the kitchen or harvesting, meal worms, scrambled eggs when I want to add some animal protein.

 

[DaveOmak]

Fish meal can be around 70% protein... Try and find one that has an actual analysis... If you added 8 grams of Fish Meal (70% protein) to a 113 gram daily ration (1/4#) of regular feed at 16% protein, the feed would be about 21% protein... and the chickens will still be getting all the necessary nutrition from their regular feed..


http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_s...sh meal for poultry&sprefix=fish+meal,aps,341

 

[Roan]

I use meat scraps from the kitchen or harvesting, meal worms, scrambled eggs when I want to add some animal protein.

That's what I do too. In fact, the turkey carcass from Thanksgiving goes first to the birds. When they've pecked the bones clean, I feed the bones to the dogs. (I know that most people say "don't feed dogs bird bones because they can choke on them" but we've been doing this for the last 44 years without incident. )

Fish meal can be around 70% protein... Try and find one that has an actual analysis... If you added 8 grams of Fish Meal (70% protein) to a 113 gram daily ration (1/4#) of regular feed at 16% protein, the feed would be about 21% protein... and the chickens will still be getting all the necessary nutrition from their regular feed..


http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_s...sh meal for poultry&sprefix=fish+meal,aps,341

Have you ever had anyone ask if your birds are fed seafood? My niece was asked that by some of her customers and when she inquired as to why they asked, they said that people with fish allergies can not eat eggs from birds that are fed fish.

 

[CS-Flock]

I've

I use meat scraps from the kitchen or harvesting, meal worms, scrambled eggs when I want to add some animal protein. 

I've given my hen scrambled eggs, she loves them, I'll try the same with the rooster, although I'd still like to try and find some kind of supplement to put in his feed, well, all of their feed really