I had a feather pecking saga in July between my 6 girls whilst they were left in their small run by my neighbour when we were on Holiday for a week.
Came back to very bare hens!
I have 6 in total, 1 has fully grown all her feathers back in the space of 2 weeks as she was seperated due to an injury.
The remaining 5 all have bare bottoms, but 2 of them also have bare backs and sides.
I am getting worried now as temperatures here in Scotland are dropping into the minuses and my chickens look pretty bald.
I have seen evidence of feathers trying to come through but then they vanish agian, assuming being pecked by the others.
After the incident in July I built them a new giant walk in run so space is no longer an issue, I have upped protein for all hens and they are all still laying. No sign of mites.
Is there anything I can do to help these feathers grow in? I am scared they are going to freeze. Seperating them all to allow regrowth is not currently possible with the new set up.
Would smothering all the bald areas with Stockholm Tar to prevent pecking be a terrible idea? I am just wardy that it's not a small area, I'd essentially have to smother them in it
Will they be ok through the winter this bald? Please help I am really starting to panic After seeing my one hen grow all hers back in a matter of weeks, 4 months seems an awful long time for them to grow.
Came back to very bare hens!
I have 6 in total, 1 has fully grown all her feathers back in the space of 2 weeks as she was seperated due to an injury.
The remaining 5 all have bare bottoms, but 2 of them also have bare backs and sides.
I am getting worried now as temperatures here in Scotland are dropping into the minuses and my chickens look pretty bald.
I have seen evidence of feathers trying to come through but then they vanish agian, assuming being pecked by the others.
After the incident in July I built them a new giant walk in run so space is no longer an issue, I have upped protein for all hens and they are all still laying. No sign of mites.
Is there anything I can do to help these feathers grow in? I am scared they are going to freeze. Seperating them all to allow regrowth is not currently possible with the new set up.
Would smothering all the bald areas with Stockholm Tar to prevent pecking be a terrible idea? I am just wardy that it's not a small area, I'd essentially have to smother them in it
Will they be ok through the winter this bald? Please help I am really starting to panic After seeing my one hen grow all hers back in a matter of weeks, 4 months seems an awful long time for them to grow.