Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[JS1]

Title says it all really. Florence the Welsumer has been plucking the feathers from the other 10 in my little flock, to their (very vocal) dismay. They free-range (within an electric fence) all the time in a decent-sized area of the garden so it's not an overcrowding issue. She's been moulting, so I think it might be a lack of protein as she's been moulting for what seems like weeks - and has a lot of feathers to regrow, seeing as how she's a big girl.

 

The action I've taken so far is upping the mealworm ration and giving her tuna to address any protein issue. (She's generally fed on organic layers pellets supplemented with a small handful of mealworms and corn in the late afternoon, plus the odd leftover salad etc). I've also taken the decision to protect the others by putting her in the Eglu run(I have an Eglu and a Cube) during the day - they can still see each other, but she can't get at them to pluck their feathers. I did this yesterday lunchtime (although she slept in the Cube with the others overnight - it's cold!) and again today.

 

My questions are is this a sensible move, and, if so, how long should I continue the treatment. I actually think that while the protein thing is an issue, it's more become a habit - a bad habit - and it's one I want to break. I don't particularly want to cover the other 10 in anti-pek, although I would if it was just one or two being victimised, but it isn't.

 

I think it may also have been prompted/exacerbated by recent additions to the flock (I got two hybrids and a leghorn a month ago). Florence has always been near the bottom of the pecking order, so I think she's been keen to assert herself and has got a taste for feathers (although only the ones she plucks, not ones on the ground)

 

Thoughts?

[Chooks Aloud]

Put a bumper bit on her, that'll stop the pecking.

[The Dogmother]

Just what I was going to say!