4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Must be mad]

Please help! I have 9 chickens and it seems that 2 or 3 have started to pull the others feathers out, around the neck and heads. When I got home tonight it looked like a fox had been in the run as there were black feathers from my australorp all over the run floor and she was sat there with a patchy bald head.

 

They have all been together since November, in a cube with a WIR, there is a climbing pyramid made from tree logs and plenty of soil for them to play in. They are in the WIR until 3.30ish when the kids get home from school and let them out to free range in the garden.

 

I have checked them all for mites and they are clear.

 

Any ideas as to why and how to stop it would be much appriciated.

[Budgies]

Hi Must be Mad

 

Someone else has a plucking problem at the moment it seems - here's their thread for interest.

 

I would recommend fitting bumper bits on the offenders if you can identify them and using an anti-peck spray on the peckees. I think Ukadex is a commonly used one.