Pet Chickens Pulling Feathers

[tototheexplorer]

Hello,

I have "pet" chickens that hatched the weekend of Easter. They are extremely tame chickens and we've recently built a very nice, spacious chicken house for them. I have a problem in that my light-colored chickens are pulling the feathers from the back of my dark chickens. They did it occasionally when we first moved them from the pen to their large house and I thought little of it because it usually only happened when they were eating (like, "Hey! Get out of my way!"), and I'm very observant of their habits and spend about 20-40 minutes with them each day (a chunk in the evening and a chunk at night). The past couple days I've seen two of the lighter colored chickens taking feathers out of the back of the darker chickens on a more consistent basis. They didn't give chase though so I had little worry and figured it was a natural thing.

However, today I go out to check on the chickens and our darker chickens, a black, a large mottled brown chicken (our only rooster) and our Plymouth Rock are not only missing most of the feathers from their hind, but the rooster and the Plymouth Rock are also bleeding and the two lighter chicken (who also happen to be the tamest of the chickens; I'm not sure if that could have anything to do with) are actually giving chase to the three dark chickens, essentially torturing them. Believe it or not, as I was spreading their food (cracked corn), the black and Plymouth actually huddled behind me, as if for protection. It broke my heart and I refuse to keep animals in captivity to be tortured. I love all of the chickens (8 in all) as they're all friendly and have loads of personality so this is really hurtful and confusing. I feel as if it's my fault, and find it insane that these two chickens only attack the chickens with dark tail feathers. It's late in the day so I'm not sure what I can do tonight but it's still driving my crazy. Any recommendations?

[JamesC]

tototheexplorer:
Feather eating is usually a sign that the birds need more protein. You mention corn as their feed which is high in carbs and fat but deficient in protein. What other foods do you provide? Do you know what the protein level is?

At this point, since feather pulling seems well established, it might be hard to bring under control. You have to deal with the protein issue but you can buy a product called "Anti Pick Lotion" or "Hot Pick Lotion" at most feed stores. Keep it applied to all of the picked areas, especially the parts that are now bleeding and it will also help in the healing process.

It could be hard to bring this under control but if you keep at it, you might be able to.

James

[tototheexplorer]

Thanks for the prompt reply.

I was feeding them grower feed, but I weaned them off of it and onto cracked corn, and this is all I have been feeding them for some time. My father once had a co-op which had poultry and he fed them cracked corn exclusively. Judging by your statement, it was a mistake to do this.

We still have the tiny area that they were living in prepared, so do you think if I separated the two "trouble makers" and introduced a healthier, protein rich diet while keeping them apart for a week that this may help?

[RonL]

Hi Toto. Welcome to Poultry One :)

The answer to your question would be yes. It sounds like a great idea. Also, the high protein diet will promote feather growth. And, listen to what James says. He is our resident expert .......

[JamesC]

tototheexplorer:
You can try separating the worst pickers, that will certainly take the stress off of the others. It might just get the pickers to pick at each other though.

I don't know how long ago your father was involved in the Co-op but feeding a diet of cracked corn alone will lead to malnutrition. Sometimes birds that are due for butchering will be fed a corn diet to get a layer of fat under the skin with the knowledge that their long term well being is not an issue.

Your birds should be on a 15% grower ration then switched to at least 16% layer once the first eggs appear. Try to wean them off corn completely if you can and supplement with greens - vegetables and grass clippings.

Good luck,
James

[tototheexplorer]

Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it. All the chickens have been put on a 15% grower (been on this since Friday night), and the two pullers have been separated. Can you or anyone else point me towards a website that sells anti-peck or Ukadex? I've scoured the local farm supply stores and not only do none of these places carry the products, but the employees seem to have no idea what I'm talking about.

[JamesC]

tototheexplorer:

Here's a link to the product at Murray McMurray Hatchery:
http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/category/health_care_feed_supplements.html

James

[tototheexplorer]

Update: we separated the two chickens and switched all the chickens to the recommended grower. We eventually decided to let the two "peckers" roam the backyard while they were separated. They're having a ball.

Anyway, it turns out we had three roosters. We tried integrating the two chickens and the roosters went nuts, grabbing the chickens, mauling each other. It definitely did not work out. So, we've had the two separated for about another week while we found a home for two of the roosters.

We unloaded the two roosters today and came back to the house and tried to integrate the chickens and again, the rooster went nuts and another chicken even hopped in on the action. And by "went nuts" I mean the rooster grabbed both chickens by the neck, head, etc. It was extremely violent.

I then ran a test with both chickens, carrying them around the pen and then unloading them (I did this for each chicken separately, rather than putting them in at the same time) in the pen while trying to keep the rooster apart from the two. It seemed the other chickens were disinterested in the "new" chicken, but then the rooster went into attack mode, with another chicken eventually jumping in.

Is there any way I can make this work or am I going to have to hand the rooster off, also? And even then, I'm still not sure if the chickens will fight amongst themselves without the rooster there.

Ah, this chicken business is more work than I thought it'd be. Thanks again for all the help you've provided (and I believe it did work; hopefully).

[chefjohn]

tototheexplorer, I have two Rhode Island Reds, one year old as pets. I feel bad for my smaller one as the big one always bites her on the back of neck and head. No blood. I let them out of the coop when I come home from work and they both jump down to the ground to peck around. As soon as I leave their pen the larger one chases the other back into the pen.
Also when it starts to get dark and they are outside the larger one goes in first and waits at the door to peck the little one. If the little one does not come in to be attacked wright away, the other one gets restless and starts making a sound until the other comes in. The little one also has to wait until the light goes out to get on the perch so as not be bothered. I feel bad for the little one all the time.
I try to slap the large one and she will come after my hand. So I do it again and she tries to bite again. We have these little fights allot. I hate to back down as she will think she won. (I don't hit her very hard or sometimes I will pull the feathers on the back of her neck.) I almost enjoy these little play fights, but again feel bad for the little one.
It must be that old pecking order taking place.

[RonL]

The new chicken was being told, in no uncertain terms, what the pecking order should be! If the hen's don't get along, you can separate them for a while. Then try again. Apparently your roo wants to mate (or show dominace) and the hen doesn't. This looks to be kind of harsh for the hen. Unless you don't want to go through the time of separation, you can get rid of this roo and get another. One that is very young and sexually imature (like 16 weeks). This way, the hens will dominate until he's ready to do his thing. I guess there are many ways to try to solve this problem and I hope others will chime in with their experiences and suggestions .............

[JamesC]

tototheexplorer:
I know that to us it looks harsh but as Ron advised the male is either trying to mate or is showing his dominance. Sometimes (especially when you want mating to happen) the male will just jump on the hen and pull feathers out. He's just over excited and he will calm down. Just let it happen. Sometimes with the Large Fowl Malays I'm working with I have to introduce a male and leave because it looks like he's going to kill her. That has never happened and if allowed time to settle down things will fall into place.

Give it some time. You did the right thing by ridding yourself of the extra two males.

James

[RonL]

things will fall into place.
James. I never heard it called that before! ...... Cute :) .

Sorry .... I'm in a goofey mood tonight. And I don't drink, by the way :?

[JamesC]

Ron:

Hmmmm, have you ever tried taking a drink!!?

James

[RonL]

:idea: