Chicken bald back

[SueChick]

I am having some trouble with constant feather pulling and am trying to battle it with bumper buts and boredom busting but the unfortunate consequence of my poor lady re-growing feathers (like a constant moult please her) is that her feathers are really dry and brittle. She feels like she has paper feathers. I am guessing that this is also making the feather pulling easier as they must just snap off without any resistance.

 

I have just started her on tuna and plan on giving scrambled egg too. Plus I have just added a feather conditioner for mounting to their water. Is there any other suggestions do you think? I have heard of cat food but what type?

 

Thank you for your reply - I do think that a certain part of this is boredom but the larger part I believe is a bad habit too. Boredom is a worry because they are in a large walk in run all day and don't ever free range (small garden). However they do have a large omlet WIR (9 foot x 6 foot WIR with 6 ft tunnel run attached) and only 2 ladies at mo - soon to be 4

 

Also could someone help with a few questions on boredom busting to stop the bully please? They can't free range so I need to keep thinking of new ideas. The only problem I have with putting pekka blocks up is that the feather puller is permanently bumper bitted which stops her being able to peck it to relieve her boredom and stop her feather pulling! Vicious circle. She can manage greens etc but I tend to only put up leaves in a wire basket and these get eaten within seconds so that's not any good for long term amusement. Corn on the cob lasts longer and she can manage that so that's one solution. Do people find whole cabbages are ok to leave up for a few days then? Doesn't it stop them eating their pellets? Does this not need to be only given in the afternoon so that it won't spoil their appetites!

 

Some guidance on boredom busting ideas is very much needed I think please. They have lots of perches, pekka blocks and a large sandbath already.

[Beantree]

We've separated hens with a cockerel's comb eating habit for 3 months and they went straight back to it immediately they were re-introduced. We had to cull. That was before Bumpa bits became available. So I think some habits may be incurable.

 

In my experience smaller feathers do snap easily. But perhaps less so when they are producing plenty of preening oil. The feed we used to buy had added omega oils, presumably for preening purposes. Some of our birds produce so much oil they are on the 'greasy' side. Some have a oil gland that appears dry. They are all on the same food though. Perhaps a bit of cod liver oil would help?