TooLilac Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 From reading posts over the last fortnight, it seems that there's a lot of fetaher eating and pecking going on ! Two weeks ago I noticed one of our Blackrocks was a bit bare round the back. I examined her and thought she might have lice, so called the vet, got Ivermectin, blitzed their coop and did everything I could think of. We've not had eggs for 15 days due to egg withdrawal period on Ivermecting ! (hardship!) Then I noticed more feather loss and couldn't for the life of me, work out who the bully was. I've hung up treat, cabbages etc. Dusted the coop daily, sprayed poor fatDaddy with anti-peck spray (which she hates), increased protein in their diet etc etc. I've even ordered BumpaBits for all of them ! (as I didn't know how the culprit was). Her bum has got worse and worse, and yesterday it looked very sore and red. So I've isolated her for two days with extra protein and treats, but I've returned her to the coop at nights. This morning she looked truly wretched, so I isolated her again and sprayed her all over with purple spray and anti-peck spray. I let her stretch her legs in the garden, and saw her pulling and eating her own feathers !!! Coudl it have been her all along ? if the sprays don't work, how on earth can I stop her ? Why is she doing it ? she's still laying, no lice, lots of space and distractions, protein and poultry tonic in her water. I'll have to put a bumpabit on her for he own good, but will still isolate her as I wouldn't be surprised if the other go for her in this state. Help ! I need advice as this is a really upsetting situation !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 Has it been warm where you are, I know some hens do it when they are to warm(a way of cooling down) or thinking of going broody. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 We had a White Star who used to eat her own feathers and we have a Silver Sussex who plucked the feathers out on her back by her tail last year when she decided to go broody for a couple of days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TooLilac Posted March 24, 2012 Author Share Posted March 24, 2012 thanks for the reassurance, both of you. I've moved on from blind panic to letting her get on with it. I am reasonably confidence there are NO lice (she was treated with Ivermectin 10 days ago) and their house has been scrubbed and sprayed with poultry shield. She's the only one, and she continued to do when she was in the isolation run. She's sitll laying, eating & drinking, and behaving normally (except near me, because I'm th ehorrid lady who keep spraying her with purple & anti-peck spray !!!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
