Self-feather pecking and soft shell eggs

[JoCin]

I have 6 hens and 1 started pecking her feathers out on a small area of her neck on Friday/Saturday. I know it is her and not bullying because we have cameras in our run and I have verified. On Sunday she laid a soft shell egg. She skipped Monday and laid another soft shell egg this morning. She is 14 months. My first thought was mites/lice. We checked thoroughly in the coop, on her and the 5 other hens are all fine. All our hens dust bathe regularly. This hen is acting normal, eating, jumping up and down, going out, etc. One thing, while it is the same brand, I did just switch their scratch feed right before this back to without corn. We gave them the same scratch with corn for the cold months. Nothing else has changed.

 

[Muser]

Could be a few things, stress comes to mind first but she might also be lacking in calcium. I read somewhere that birds will eat their feathers to regain calcium, maybe she's deficient? Is she eating them or just dropping them, she might also be prepping for broody behaviour with chest/belly feather pulling.

 

[JoCin]

She is just dropping them. I have oyster shell for them and they all do well consuming it. Thank you!

 

[Muser]

She is just dropping them. I have oyster shell for them and they all do well consuming it. Thank you!

Hmm, sounds like calcium intake is good then. So that leaves stress or brooding (or something else i haven't thought of ). I reckon if she's eating/drinking fine, might be she's looking to brood

 

[JoCin]

Hmm, sounds like calcium intake is good then. So that leaves stress or brooding (or something else i haven't thought of ). I reckon if she's eating/drinking fine, might be she's looking to brood

Oh boy, I hope not brood!

 

[Muser]

Oh boy, I hope not brood!

Is she spending a little more time away from the girls and nearer the coop? I just gently boot my broodies off the nests when I find them and remove any eggs as quick as they are laid to avoid this. Most will give up quickly... unless yours is anything like my orpington and then she would literally rather starve to death than give up on an empty nest. I ended up giving her eggs to raise. Never again though!

 

[JoCin]

Is she spending a little more time away from the girls and nearer the coop? I just gently boot my broodies off the nests when I find them and remove any eggs as quick as they are laid to avoid this. Most will give up quickly... unless yours is anything like my orpington and then she would literally rather starve to death than give up on an empty nest. I ended up giving her eggs to raise. Never again though!

Nope, she hangs with her girls. Mine are all Cinnamon Queens who tend to not go broody, but that's not 100%. I do remove the eggs as quickly as I can.

 

[FrostRanger]

Is she eating a regular chicken feed as well? If so what's the protein percentage on it?
I would cut out the scratch for now and up the protein in their feed to 20% in case it's a nutrition issue. You can also try pinless peepers as well to see if that discourages her.
How big is their coop and run? Pictures would be helpful

 

[JoCin]

Is she eating a regular chicken feed as well? If so what's the protein percentage on it?
I would cut out the scratch for now and up the protein in their feed to 20% in case it's a nutrition issue. You can also try pinless peepers as well to see if that discourages her.
How big is their coop and run? Pictures would be helpful

Yes, they have regular pellets as well. The pellets are 18% protein the scratch is also 18%. She eats both as well as a measured amount of mealworm/BSF daily and fresh veggies. She is drinking normal. The area that she was picking at doesn't appear to be getting larger. Will do. Thanks

 

[JoCin]

Yes, they have regular pellets as well. The pellets are 18% protein the scratch is also 18%. She eats both as well as a measured amount of mealworm/BSF daily and fresh veggies. She is drinking normal. The area that she was picking at doesn't appear to be getting larger. Will do. Thanks

Their coop is 30 sq. ft. and their run is 600 sq. ft.