chuckmum Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 (edited) Hi there everyone I am hoping that some of you may be able to help me with a bit of a puzzle. I have three chickens, Mabel, Phyllis and Dylis. Mabel and Phyllis are fine although both are going through a major moult. They are all very well behaved and none of them peck one another. However, Dylis seems to have a major problem, which hasn't been solved by her own moult, which is that of pulling out all her feathers down her breast and down through to the vent. The poor girl looks constantly sore with a red bare crop and a red bare behind - no lovely powder puff to keep Dylis' bottom warm. Earlier in the summer I detected some lice on Dylis - though not on the other two. I thought this might be the source of the problem so liberally applied diatamaceous powder on all three chickens, in their bedding etc. There has been no further problem with lice and I occcasionally give them all a dusting to make sure. Since the summer Dylis has moulted and grown lovely new feathers except on her breast etc cos she's pulled them all out. How can I get her out of this silly habit? - or is there some other reason for this persistent behaviour?? Many thanks for any contribution you can make Chuckmum Edited December 4, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve the Gas Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 She may be lacking enuff protein- give fishy cat food, mealworms etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percy049 Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 i know in budgies and other parrrots own feather plucking can be a sign of boredom... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum Posted December 5, 2010 Author Share Posted December 5, 2010 Thanks for these ideas - all contributions most gratefully received and considered. I'll try the meat stuff idea but am still puzzled as to why the other two are not affected. Re: boredom - again not sure why the others are not affected - also not sure if I can do anything more for them in the boredom stakes as they have a large palace of an old converted piggery in which to roost and amuse themselves when they 'get up' , breakfast is laid on, and they are let outside for at least part of the day to roam around our large garden. At the moment they often prefer the piggery, for obvious reasons. Does anyone know if there is any barrier cream or something like that that might stop her from doing it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
