Hen bully/feather pecker help

[MB13534]

Hi all,

I’m a first-year chicken keeper with six hens (no roosters) in Portland, Maine. My flock (an Easter Eggers, a Buff Orpington, a Lavender Orpington, a Barred Rock, an Australorp and a Black Copper Maran) is about 36 weeks old, all laying regularly.

They have an 8’x16’ hardware cloth-enclosed run, covered with clear tarps up to 4 feet for wind protection, and a draft-free coop inside with deep litter pine shavings. During the day, they free-range in an additional 1,500 sq. ft. enclosed area and have access to a 3-bay compost with daily kitchen chicken-safe scraps. Their diet includes 16% Nutrena layer feed, heated water with ACV (plus 2 times a day I give some fresh water), free-choice oyster shells and grit, and some cracked corn before bed.

About a week ago, I noticed a large bald patch on my Barred Rock’s thigh, with one scaly spot. Other hens have smaller bare patches, some appearing to heal. I think I ruled out mites and lice after checking the birds and coop thoroughly, and I use PREMO spray regularly as a preventative.

I’ve recently observed my Black Copper Maran “Judy” going back and forth from chicken to chicken pecking at feathers, sometimes incidentally drawing blood. The Barred Rock’s feathers appear sheared off, aligning with this behavior I think? I set up a separation area for Judy with food, water, and blanket on 3 sides at night for extra warmth, but when I reintroduced her after two days/nights, the behavior persisted, so she’s back in isolation.

Could this be a feather-pecking disorder rather than bullying? I’m unsure how to address this behavior or rule out underlying health issues like mites or lice confidently. I don't feel like it would be nutrition deficiency with what I feed them, or boredom with all of the space, but I just don't know. Everybody otherwise seems very healthy and happy. Red combs and typical behavior. The isolation setup seems to work, but I feel bad leaving Judy separated, especially with temperatures dropping to 10°F tonight. But of course I feel for the other birds as well!

I’ve attached photos of the flock (older pic from before the winter), run, coop, and the affected Barred Rock for reference. Sorry the photos are poor, it is hard taking them with just myself. Any advice on identifying the issue and managing Judy’s behavior would be greatly appreciated!

Please let me know what additional information I can provide, as I am sure I as missing things. Thanks so much for your help!

 

[Byrd gal]

Is the pecking on the roost at night or all the time? One chicken or is anyone fair game to get feathers pulled?

 

[FrostRanger]

I would switch to a feed with 20% protein and cut the corn out for now. She might be feather picking 'cause she's not getting enough protein. If that doesn't fix it, you can try pinless peepers to see if that helps

 

[MB13534]

Is the pecking on the roost at night or all the time? One chicken or is anyone fair game to get feathers pulled?

I watched a bunch of video footage and I never noticed anything super out of the normal. The barred rock was the first I noticed and at that time it was a big patch missing. At the time, I didnt even consider pecking, I was freaking out about an infestation. It wasnt till several days later when I was out there and I saw Judy going back and forth between the buff orpington, the lavender orpington, and the easter egger. By then, some of the other chickens had small spots, and the lavender had a little blood. I didnt observe much more, I immediatly created her cell as I was pretty confident that Judy was the source. When I let her out a few days later (yesterday), I observerd her doing the same behavior when I came out to give them their corn. So I put her back in her cell.

 

[MB13534]

I would switch to a feed with 20% protein and cut the corn out for now. She might be feather picking 'cause she's not getting enough protein. If that doesn't fix it, you can try pinless peepers to see if that helps

Do you feel like from the images, I have safely ruled out an infestation? I will try a higher protein feed and cut out the corn. I read that the corn is good on really cold nights, but that is probably poppycock anyways haha. Maybe I can replace the corn with BSFL for extra protein? I will order the pinless peepers off amazon since they take a while to arrive. - thanks!

 

[LaFleche]

16% protein and lowering it down even more by feeding kitchen scraps is not enough for actively laying hens in winter.

Switch their feed to an all flock or grower feed with 18-20% protein and provide crushed oyster shell free choice and some carrots or similar for healthy entertainment.

 

[FrostRanger]

Do you feel like from the images, I have safely ruled out an infestation? I will try a higher protein feed and cut out the corn. I read that the corn is good on really cold nights, but that is probably poppycock anyways haha. Maybe I can replace the corn with BSFL for extra protein? I will order the pinless peepers off amazon since they take a while to arrive. - thanks!

It certainly never hurts to double check for mites or lice just in case as there's no reason both couldn't be going on, but I think your main issue is feather picking

It is just a myth that corn keeps birds warm. If that were true it'd be dangerous to feed birds their usual feed in summer as most chicken feed is mostly corn. I would just feed them the higher protein feed without any treats for now. You can start giving them treats again eventually but for now I'd let them just eat their feed

 

[MB13534]

It certainly never hurts to double check for mites or lice just in case as there's no reason both couldn't be going on, but I think your main issue is feather picking

It is just a myth that corn keeps birds warm. If that were true it'd be dangerous to feed birds their usual feed in summer as most chicken feed is mostly corn. I would just feed them the higher protein feed without any treats for now. You can start giving them treats again eventually but for now I'd let them just eat their feed

OK thanks so much. BSFL for extra protein until I can get the feed? How long do you think I need to separate Judy. It sounds like it is more likely diet and not behavior. I would never describe her as bossy or anything. This kind of caught me off guard. She is definitely the largest of the flock though

 

[FrostRanger]

OK thanks so much. BSFL for extra protein until I can get the feed? How long do you think I need to separate Judy. It sounds like it is more likely diet and not behavior. I would never describe her as bossy or anything. This kind of caught me off guard. She is definitely the largest of the flock though

I would actually use a can of sardines in water for now rather than bsfl. It most likely is a diet issue but if it goes on long enough it certainly can become an ingrained behavior and once it gets to that point it becomes a lot more difficult or sometimes impossible to break. I think you caught Judy early enough that she shouldn't be too hard to break. I would keep her jailed for a week but I'd keep her jail with the flock so you don't have to reintegrate her. If you separate a bird from the flock for too long they'll treat them like a stranger, this can be helpful in cases where you have a bully bird, but it isn't necessary in Judy's case I think. You just want to stop her from feather picking while you're correcting her protein deficiency. Between her needs getting better met and her being physically unable to feather pick, that should correct the issue

 

[MB13534]

I would actually use a can of sardines in water for now rather than bsfl. It most likely is a diet issue but if it goes on long enough it certainly can become an ingrained behavior and once it gets to that point it becomes a lot more difficult or sometimes impossible to break. I think you caught Judy early enough that she shouldn't be too hard to break. I would keep her jailed for a week but I'd keep her jail with the flock so you don't have to reintegrate her. If you separate a bird from the flock for too long they'll treat them like a stranger, this can be helpful in cases where you have a bully bird, but it isn't necessary in Judy's case I think. You just want to stop her from feather picking while you're correcting her protein deficiency. Between her needs getting better met and her being physically unable to feather pick, that should correct the issue

Thanks very much for the advice! Her cell is actually right inside the enclosed/covered run. She just wont have the extra warmth from the enclosed coop and the 5 other chicken heaters. But I think she will be ok? It is getting to a low of like 10 degrees so very cold, but she is a big bird with healthy feathers, and I have a 4x2 perch in her cell, some towels on 3 sides, and the run is covered with tarp to protect from most of the wind.

I just got back inside from letting her out of her cell briefly to observe her behavior, and she almost immediately started pecking off the rear feathers from the lavender orpington and eating them. So she is back in jail now. I was hopeful to allow her to sleep with the others tonight and cell her in the AM.