Why won't some of my chickens stop eating the others feathers?

[parrotschickens]

I've tried researching this and some said they were not getting enough protein. People said to give them kitten food or other high protein food through out the week. Have tried this and still some are picking the others feathers and making them look like rats have chewed on there feathers. I've tried putting pine tar on areas of the chickens and other ointments and they still pick. Does anyone have any other ideas I can do to try to break this habbit? Thanks to everyone for all the input on my other questions! Any help is appreciated!

 

[Katiedid]

I had one smaller chicken who was getting feather plucked by our roo. We tried bluekoat and pine tar neither of which helped. We extended our run, added suet blocks and a lettuce treat toy and increased protein at the same time, which was when the problem stopped. We increased protein with black oil sunflower seeds, if that helps. Oh - we also switched from pellets to mash, on a recommendation from byc forums. Not sure if it was any one thing that solved the problem, it may have been a combination of factors.

 

[HEChicken]

You haven't said how many birds you have or how much space they have. Feather picking CAN be caused by low protein but since you have addressed that, another thing to consider is space. Birds that don't have enough space will feel stressed and the stress sometimes comes out in the form of feather picking.

 

[ParistoCapeCod]

I'm following this thread with interest as on the first day of the heat wave, two of my 9 week old pullets made a mess of their backs. I cleaned with sterile saline, cooled them down, separated them from the remaining two and brought them into the cooler cellar. I treated one with bacitracin and one with Gold Bond powder as it was oozing. Has anyone else used Gold Bond for this problem? Is anything in it harmful to poultry? Both seem better, no additional injury, eating and drinking. I gave their favorite protein, hard boiled eggs, to all four. I put some vitamins on it, and put cider vinegar in the water. Waiting for a break in the heat tomorrow. Covered the pen and run with wet hay to help evaporative cooling and an exhaust fan at the coop window. Thanks!

 

[Redcatcher]

I've discovered through the years that it appears to be a salt deficiency. I wouldn't add salt to their food but I'd offer them some lightly salted crackers or even potato chip crumbs.

 

[parrotschickens]

Thanks for all the input!!! I will go measure our pen for the person that wanted to know how much space they had and post it back on here. Also, when there out in the pasture I still see them do it. We have an acre. They get to come out for about 3 hours a day in the pasture in the afternoon. Also,someone mentioned suet blocks, do you buy them or make them? What kind of lettuce treat do you make?Black oil sunflower seeds how and how often do you give them? What is mash? Is that crumbles? We give ours crumbles. If it's not crumbles what is it made of? Thanks everyone!

 

[Katiedid]

I just buy suet treats. For a lettuce treat, I hang it in the run to keep them busy and give them something to peck at. Other people use cabbage and this is supposed to be fine, but my neighbors give us lettuce. Crumbles are supposed to be better than pellets. (I got some statistics from an extension office, I cant remember which one.) I really don't know what did it, maybe it was all of it, but I hope you find a solution.