Door too small for Jersey Giant?

[Dolly]

We've kept hens for 3 years now and we've suffered with feather pecking for about two thirds of that time. I realise that on forums such as these, people report problems so awareness of issues like this is raised but in reality, is this a common problem? It's been our black rock that did most of the damage, but today, after 10 feather pecking free months, I've just noticed our columbian blacktail has started doing it and my heart sank

 

They FR when we're home and have a large WIR with things to climb on and do to keep them busy. I've used sprays with little success and bumper bits which worked well for a long time, until we had a terrible experience with one of the girls getting injured, so I won't be going down this route again.

 

Have we just been unlucky or is this fairly common and 'to be expected'?

[Eggasperated]

Well I've had a feather pecking problem with my black rocks almost from day one of hen keeping, I rehomed the worst offender but it's never gone away completely. I had limited success with sprays and bumper bits, and now accept that it is something I have to put up with if I want to keep chickens.

My 5 have free run within a 50m electric fence, they have a hedge, lots of trees and a covered area with a dust bath and other distractions as well as their house so boredom is not really an excuse for them. It's something I never really expected and sometimes I think visitors must think my chickens look terrible, but on the whole they seem happy enough in themselves so I just have to ignore it.

[Olly]

I think it is very common. I had no problem with my first two hens, who lived in an Eglu with standard run, but as soon as I introduced new hens the feather-pulling began. I have tried bumper bits, but they are a real nuisance to put on and I worry about how the hens feel about it; I've tried sprays, even the evil Ukadex, and nothing really works.

 

While overcrowding can be a cause of feather-pulling, it's not always the case.

My hens have a 3m x 2m run, they have a treat ball with corn in every day, fresh greens hung up, lots of branches to perch on so they can escape each other but it still goes on.

 

I wish they didn't do it, because the birds look so shabby! and it can't be very pleasant for the plucked ones. Like Eggasperated though, I have learned to live with it - no damage is ever done to the skin with my hens, they are just plucked bald in different places, usually the back or knickers. Sometimes it stops, the feathers regrow - and then they start again. As long as there is no blood drawn I have let them get on with it - it's horrid to see, but the birds themselves don't seem too bothered.

[jasperaliceuk]

I'm just experiencing this for the first time with my Pepperpot Gwen. Yesterday I noticed she had no knickers. I can only think she has done it to herself as, as one of the original two out of my 5, she is one of the bossy ones. I've not seen any of them doing protracted pulling, only the sly peck here and there, usually around food.

 

Gwen seems fine in herself - she's always been a bit nervy although I can pick her up. She certainly had a hot bot yesterday but I'm assuming that is normal chicken temperature! I've also had a few soft eggs - not sure who the perpetrator is but assumed it was the new ones who have only been laying a month. Not sure if there would be a connection.

 

As she seems fine I am ignoring it for the moment but just keeping a sharper eye on their activities - making sure they get more greens, the grit filled up, plenty to do in the run as they are not out of it much.

 

Sue

[tracyann]

Have had problems with my Wheaton Marans having their bums plucked by the Welsummers since the Summer, they've no excuse, 14 hens and 1 cockerel in a 25 hen hen house and 750 foot of garden to free range. You see the welsummers creep up behind them and peck, no amount of purple spray cures this one unfortunately! I'm hoping they will get over it with the three new additions going in the coop tonight.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I'm fortunate not to have ever experienced feather pulling in 4 years of chicken keeping. Just luck, I suppose.

[jasperaliceuk]

Well I certainly know who the culprit is now. Watched them this morning and Rose is just sneaking up and grabbing feathers. Having denuded poor Gwen's bot I now see Mimi has a bald patch starting. Rose is doing it to all of them. Went and bought some anti peck and failing that will have to try a bumper bit. Would isolation for the perpetrator be a solution too?

 

Sue

[Eggasperated]

Sometimes isolation is successful, it didn't work with my worst offender but it's certainly worth a try.

[MissPug+Chooks]

I need help with this too

 

So frustrating as we'd figured out that the feather pulling was a result of the chickens staying in the eglu run for about 5 days due to rain they then had lots of dry weather so they were out...they wrecked the garden in this time but the feathers started to grow back and then it rained again....and now all the new feathers have been plucked

 

GUTTED as before we introduced our new one we never had this problem, but they are all so fond of each other which is difficult.

 

We separated the culprit and it was as though she's been storing the urge up because as soon as she was reintroduced she was on a mission.

 

Just bought some meal worms in hope that the protein will help but really at a loss as what to do - was going to consider a chicken jumper for the victim just to give her a chance at growing them back but heard that this can do more harm than good - she is currently kincker-less and 'bra-less' at the moment help

[Eggasperated]

I wouldn't use a chicken jumper as I agree it's just likely to cause other problems. I also had one that went on a 'mission' after being separated and even when in a separate pen would try and call the others over to her so that she could pull feathers through the wire .

If you are getting less of a problem when you give them a larger area perhaps you could set up a fenced in space so that they could have the run of this even in the rain, if possible making small covered areas and logs and other things to do.

Have you tried the Ukadex spray, this may work, although mine just developed a taste for it, I think some people have had success with this.

I expect other people will be able to give you further advice so hopefully you will be able to cure your feather plucker .

[jasperaliceuk]

 

Gwen's rear!

 

This morning eldest daughter and I wrestled with all but the culprit to spray them with anti-peck. My jeans and the fleeces we were wearing are now in the wash. Some of the spray obviously . The stench is not great and really sticks in the nostrils!

 

The chickens seemed fairly disgusted. Rose is still trying to peck out feathers but I'm hoping the bad taste will get to her and she'll cease.

 

I do find it odd that Gwen is definitely at the top - you'll see in the pic I threw in half a swede today and her and Mimi completely monopolised, pecking at the other three, including Rose, if they wanted a look in. I eventually hauled it out and cut it up so they could all get some. So if Rose is an underling which is she doing the pecking - Gwen gives her a good hard peck back if she does pinch a feather. Is Rose trying it on and trying to move up the rankings? And how the heck did she managed to denude poor Gwen in a night - couldn't she sleep?!

 

Sue

Sue

[Mum]

Some of the chickens I have had from my breeder have had a bald patch. When I asked her about this she said it was normal chicken behaviour - even to the point where some chickens will pull their own feathers out!

 

However, since they live with me, all feathers re-grow and they don't seem to be interested in pecking either themselves or one another. And I'm always delighted when they fluff up to their full potential

 

Saying that, when loose feathers are laying around (one of mine has just had her first serious moult) it's not uncommon to see one or other chook eating the feathers laying around.

 

I may be wrong, but, my personal view is that as long as blood isn't being drawn, it must be normal chicken behaviour.