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[stellabystarlight]

HIya one of my hens, Olivia a black rock has started going up to the other girls and plucking out feathers then eating them. How can I stop this and does anyone know why she is doing this?

 

Please help

[coco]

One of my chickens has started doing this. I think it was caused by boredom when they were confined to the run during the bad weather. Another cause can be lack of protein. I sprayed the oner who was having her feathers pecked with a product called Scarper [seems to work]. Ukadex is also supposed to be good. I'vec seperated the feather eater during the day to try and get her out of the habit.

[Eggasperated]

I have also had an ongoing problem with feather plucking and eating, my worst offender has a bumper bit and can be quite persistent in pecking at the others and she still manages to pull some feathers and now spends most of her days on her own in an ark rabbit run - where she seems quite happy.

The other two also have bumper bits and are sprayed with Ukadex and although they will still try and pull feathers they are a lot less persistent.

 

I have tried the extra protein and followed all the advice on this site but am really struggling with this problem - all of mine are Black Rock crosses and after a bit of research it looks as if these may be particularly prone to boredom pecking. They are the first hens I have ever kept and quite honestly they are enough to put me off the whole chicken business

 

I am now in the process of getting electric fencing to give them a large safe (from foxes) free range area as it has been recommended to me as the only way to stop them. I shall wait and see

[stellabystarlight]

Hi thanks for the replies, all 7 of mine free roam all day in the back garden which is about 24 feet by 30 feet. They have a fenced in run 12 feet by 12 feet within that part of the garden that the get locked up in in the evening when it gets dark. I tried locking Olivia in there this afternoon but she was so desperate to get out I let her out after 30minutes but she ran straight up to Pearl who was dust bathing and started pecking her I felt like I hadn't achieved anything. I have heard of bumper bits but was a bit off using them but feel it might have to do this.

 

Thanks again for your replies

[iandjsmum]

Hi everyone

 

I have a chicken in the play pen in the kitchen tonight because of this problem. One of my white stars was so 'feather pulled' by the other that it finally drew blood and then all hell let loose and they all started pecking her! It was horrible so I've bought her in. Tried the anti peck spray but not great.

 

Now I'm wondering how long feathers take to grow back? I'm new to this (Nov) and it's a bit worrying.

 

Might post a question about feather growth.

 

Good luck everyone.

[Eggasperated]

Are you using the Ukadex? None of the others had any effect with mine and even with Ukadex there has still been some attempt at feather plucking.

[iandjsmum]

I haven't tried ukadex. I only had a violet anti peck spray which didn't really put them all off. My poor chicken's gone to bed in a cardboard box in the garage tonight. She spent the day in the play pen with chicken wire over the top in the garden. I've had to totally separate her which to be honest has been dificult without another coop. I can't spend any more money on my chickens! I wish I'd pulled out the feather puller earlier on though before it got this bad. It all happened quite quickly.

[Ian 6]

I tend to agree with Eggasperated, my Black Rock cross does the feather pulling and eating. I don't think it's bullying as I have watch her for some time, it seems that if she is near another chicken she just helps herself and does it so the other one does not notice.

I have had them separated but now let them freerange together and just reintroduced them. I will see how it goes but the bumper bits are on stand by!

[Eggasperated]

I have seen Pippa staring at Carols neck before she starts to feather pluck, what seems very odd to me is that Carol then stands stock still and allows Pippa to strip out her neck feathers.

 

Carol and Alice also pull one anothers feathers but not as frequently as Pippa and this I can control to some extent with the Ukadex.

 

Still awaiting delivery of my electric fencing (some machine breakdown at the factory) so don't know how this is going to work. Shall be interested to hear how you get on Ian.