Controlling Coop light from the Omlet app

[riven]

One hen spends all her time pecking the feathers out of another hen. She now has a completely bald bottom. I don't have any anti-peck so have used stiny foul surface spray to stop it for now.

Why do they do this?

She is a persistant fetaher pecker. Pulls them out and eats them

[Redwing]

If she is eating them then she could be lacking in protein

 

Sometimes though they are a bit compulsive and will do this anyway anti peck spray is good - you can get it from pets at Home or an agricultural merchants, surface spray doesnt sound ideal, anything that makes surfaces super shiny and squeaky clean cant be good for a hens backside!

 

Ukadex is the daddy of anti peck sprays and can be used as a nearly last resort

 

Another option is a bumper bit

 

Another option is to seperate her then put her back in after a few days - she will have slipped down the pecking order by then

 

Lack of space is another reason for feather pulling

[Fur 'n' Feathers]

One of our newbies was doing this to another pulling & eating them round the vent. There was no issue with diet so we put it down to learning an aberrant behaviour. We got in quick with anti-peck (Shaw's from your petshop will do if you are needing it quickly) and it's stopped.

 

Once the feathers had grown back & fluffed up the behaviour stopped. The habit seems to have been broken.

 

Bit of advice here - spray every day as the effect does wear off. Our problem took a bit longer to solve as we foolishly thought it only needed doing every 2-3 days. Consequently there was improvement followed by set back.

 

Hope it goes well.

[Saronne]

If she is eating them then she could be lacking in protein

 

 

I know that's what is said, but I've got a few persistent feather pecker/eaters who must get sufficient protein; they get a good quality layers' pellets, they get the occasional bit of plain fish (no salt or bones), lots of dark leafy greens to peck at, grit, cod liver oil, ACV in water, regular Flubenvet worming, AND enough space to run around, dust bathe, be on different levels, etc..

 

Why oh why oh why do they still persist in pecking and eating feathers?

 

Saronne x

[riven]

I think her protein is fine. Will go get some anti-peck ordered monday.

She tried it on the head chicken today and got roundly told off. Its a large run with extension so plenty of room. With a mezzanine level

Unfortunately I have nowhere to put her seperate as its a teeny garden. Bald bum chicken seems ok. Suprised she's not a bit chilly round the nether regions...

[riven]

Let them out to trash the garden today as we haven't planted the veg yet and miss feather pecker still sidled upto the other hens to pull out a feather.

Sigh.

She's the only one left with a fluffy bottom. Ordered anti-peck spray and will lok into the beak things.

[jadelee2]

Hi, It might be worth checking for parasites, such as lice, as this is another reason for feather pecking. If not, sometimes boredom is the problem. Boredom busters that I've tried are hanging up vegetables or empty milk containers, filled with a little water.

[Eggasperated]

My feather pecker is currently having a six week solitary to try and cure her but I'm not holding out much hope as she tries to pull feathers through the wire of her run .

 

I've tried virtually everything including extra protein, various sprays and bumper bits - none of which worked with her . I am currently changing their food as they have organic pellets and I'm wondering whether this is lacking in something.

 

For my part I think it started around the time one of them had lice, I also think it may be more prevalent in Black Rocks (which mine are) but once it starts it can be a real pain to stop although I believe others on the forum have had luck using the water spray (that just put mine off laying).

 

Good luck with a cure I really hope you manage to stop it before it becomes an ingrained habit.

[chickyhazel]

Our amber star pecks out feathers for seemingly no reason. She free-ranges every day and gets plenty of protein. Luckily the others haven't gone bald as she doesn't do it that often