Feather picking

[ellchr3]

I don't want to say I give up, but I'm at my wits end. My chickens have been pecking each others feathers for months no matter what I do. There are no main aggressors as they all do it aside from the alpha rooster. He's unscathed and doesn't seem to peck.

In January coop and run space was a possible issue, but that was nearly tripled back in late February/early March.

1. 17 total chickens. 15 hens and 2 roosters
2. Plenty of space at over 22 sq ft per bird in the run
3. 2 coops at 32sqft total each
4. Protein in their food is ~ 22%
5. No mites/lice
6. I've constantly added enrichment (tire swing, inclusion of an old stump to roost/forage, treat dispensers, mirrors, roosts in the run, a couple of balls to kick around etc)
7. used pinless peepers mutliple times

The thing is that they aren't just pecking and pulling feathers, they are eating them. It tends to mostly take place when they're dustbathing, but I have seen it just standing/walking around. I watched one of my barred rocks tug and pull on the neck of one of my Amercaunas while she just stood there and took it.

 

[FrostRanger]

It sounds like you have tried everything. At that point I'd cull and start over. I'd say it's just become a pervasive habit at this point. Hopefully with all the changes to your management proceedure you made you new girls will be better behaved

 

[my spoiled chickens]

Do you have Black copper marans?

 

[ellchr3]

Do you have Black copper marans?

I do not. We have a fairly generous mix of breeds though. Olive and Easter eggers, Americaunas, barred rock, golden comet, lavender orpingtons, and a black australorp.

 

[my spoiled chickens]

I do not. We have a fairly generous mix of breads though. Olive and Easter eggers, Americaunas, barred rock, golden comet, lavender orpingtons, and a black australorp.

Black copper marans are feather pickers thats why I was asking

 

[TriciaTKB]

I don't want to say I give up, but I'm at my wits end. My chickens have been pecking each others feathers for months no matter what I do. There are no main aggressors as they all do it aside from the alpha rooster. He's unscathed and doesn't seem to peck.

In January coop and run space was a possible issue, but that was nearly tripled back in late February/early March.

1. 17 total chickens. 15 hens and 2 roosters
2. Plenty of space at over 22 sq ft per bird in the run
3. 2 coops at 32sqft total each
4. Protein in their food is ~ 22%
5. No mites/lice
6. I've constantly added enrichment (tire swing, inclusion of an old stump to roost/forage, treat dispensers, mirrors, roosts in the run, a couple of balls to kick around etc)
7. used pinless peepers mutliple times

The thing is that they aren't just pecking and pulling feathers, they are eating them. It tends to mostly take place when they're dustbathing, but I have seen it just standing/walking around. I watched one of my barred rocks tug and pull on the neck of one of my Amercaunas while she just stood there and took it.

What ended up happening? I have three Easter Egger girls and a maran that started doing this to each other. They are all 2-3 years old. They have plenty of room, and they free range on 17 acres of wooded property for at least 6 hours per day. I am giving them 20% protein feed. They all just stand there while another picks out neck feathers. Some eat the feathers.

 

[ellchr3]

What ended up happening? I have three Easter Egger girls and a maran that started doing this to each other. They are all 2-3 years old. They have plenty of room, and they free range on 17 acres of wooded property for at least 6 hours per day. I am giving them 20% protein feed. They all just stand there while another picks out neck feathers. Some eat the feathers.

Nothing yet. I just posted yesterday about it.

 

[TriciaTKB]

Nothing yet. I just posted yesterday about it.

Sorry, I miss read the post and thought it was from last year.

 

[Jrod69]

I don't want to say I give up, but I'm at my wits end. My chickens have been pecking each others feathers for months no matter what I do. There are no main aggressors as they all do it aside from the alpha rooster. He's unscathed and doesn't seem to peck.

In January coop and run space was a possible issue, but that was nearly tripled back in late February/early March.

1. 17 total chickens. 15 hens and 2 roosters
2. Plenty of space at over 22 sq ft per bird in the run
3. 2 coops at 32sqft total each
4. Protein in their food is ~ 22%
5. No mites/lice
6. I've constantly added enrichment (tire swing, inclusion of an old stump to roost/forage, treat dispensers, mirrors, roosts in the run, a couple of balls to kick around etc)
7. used pinless peepers mutliple times

The thing is that they aren't just pecking and pulling feathers, they are eating them. It tends to mostly take place when they're dustbathing, but I have seen it just standing/walking around. I watched one of my barred rocks tug and pull on the neck of one of my Amercaunas while she just stood there and took it.

This is discouraging, I have the same thing happening for months. First thought it was mites and treated for them for weeks. My pen is sized adequately but the coop was too small. I just re homed the only 3 birds that were unscathed.
Now im thinking of buying and applying Blue Kote on the remaining 5 birds.

 

[FrostRanger]

This is discouraging, I have the same thing happening for months. First thought it was mites and treated for them for weeks. My pen is sized adequately but the coop was too small. I just re homed the only 3 birds that were unscathed.
Now im thinking of buying and applying Blue Kote on the remaining 5 birds.

You can also try upping protein to 20% and putting pinless peepers on everyone. How big are your coop and run in square feet?