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

[JanTheDiver]

Hi I have noticed over the last couple of days that at least two of my girls are eating loose feathers that have fallen out. I just spotted Hester eating, what looks like, some of her own feathers that have come out, but I saw Tikka yesterday eating a loose feather of Lucy's.

 

Is this normal and if so does anyone know why do they do it?

 

Thanks

 

Jan

[Space Chick]

It is normal behaviour, however, if it develops into feather pecking, where they are pulling feathers out of each other to eat that is when it becomes more of a problem and that needs sorting out quickly.

[JanTheDiver]

Ok thanks.

 

I don't think it is feather pecking as they all seem reasonably amicable, but I will keep an eye on it.

[JanTheDiver]

Hi, just witnessed Hester pulling feathers from 4 of the other girls, she is pulling them from their backs.

 

How do I stop her doing this?

 

Is this to do with frustration about being locked in the cube run all day. We have a standard run with the extension, so there should be plenty of room for six.

 

We can only let them out to do a bit more free ranging at the weekend and maybe as she is now locked in she is frustrated, what do you think

 

Any guidance would be appreciated.

 

Jan

[Space Chick]

Boredom can be a factor, but sometimes it can just be a Cheeky girl (my Sarah-Jane used to feather peck but doesn't any more).

 

The first port of call would be to try an anti peck spray, spray it on the backs of the girls and it tastes horrible (this sorted out Sarah-Jane for me).

 

If that doesn't work, then you should put a bumper bit on the offender (although some chickens can still feather peck with a bumper bit on )

 

Good luck

[JanTheDiver]

Thanks for that, I will get some spray and give that a try.

 

I hate hearing the others squark as she pulls their feathers out

[JanTheDiver]

Thought I would let you know that Hester laid her first egg today, so I wonder if the feather pecking may have been frustration about laying the egg.

 

Has anyone come across this before in a hen?

 

I haven't been around much today but didn't see any feather pecking when I was around this evening and there were not many feathers lying in the run. I did cover the other girls in anti-peck spray yesterday so that may have helped.

 

Hopefully it was just about the egg laying and it will stop now.

[Egluntyne]

It is a habit that is best stopped in its tracks, as it can escalate.

 

It can be a sign that the hen needs a little more protein in her diet.

 

If it persists, I'd fit a bumperbit to the offender.

[JanTheDiver]

What provides chickens with protien, except for slugs which I am rapidly running out of in the garden

[Egluntyne]

Organic cat food ( not chicken based), scrambled egg, chick crumbs, meal worms (dried or otherwise) tuna (rinsed and line caught).

[JanTheDiver]

Thanks for the info. I wouldn't have thought that chickens would have eaten some of that but I will try them.