i Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images Show
Contented chickens scratching up insects in the barnyard or crooning happily as they lay their eggs is the ideal situation every homesteader strives for. Sometimes this idyllic picture is torn in two when a hen or two show up with large bald patches where feathers used to be. When bald spots are caused by feather eating, take immediate action to prevent a potential fatality. Why Buffy Went BaldDetermine whether your chicken's feather loss is due to feather eating by careful observation. If the bald patch has bloody areas or scabs, it is most likely due to another chicken eating her feathers. Bald areas on the back of her neck and back may often signal rough or too-frequent mating. A bare patch on her chest is not unusual if she is sitting on a nest, as hens often pluck a spot to help them monitor egg temperature. A bare spot with red dots near her vent most frequently signals parasites. Feather picking usually occurs along the base of the tail and is accompanied by red, irritated skin. Stop the BullyingA victim of feather pecking can die within a day or two. Once the skin has been opened, other chickens will continue to pick at the victim whenever they see her. If possible, the hen will hide but will be too fearful to come out for food and water. Remove the victimized chicken to a cage by herself until her wounds have healed and the bald skin is no longer red. If keeping her apart is not practical, use veterinary antiseptic spray containing a blue stain on the bald skin to lessen its appeal to flock mates. Find What's MissingThere are a number of reasons why chickens will eat another's feathers. Very commonly, nutritional deficiencies are the cause. Make sure your hen's food has at least 16 percent protein -- switch feed if necessary. Provide a bowl of ground oyster shells separate from the feed so your chicken can supplement her calcium intake. Finally, adding 1 teaspoon of raw apple cider vinegar can provide potassium and trace minerals that may be causing her to seek out nutrition by consuming another chicken's feathers. Supplement their diet with lawn clippings, greens from the garden or table scraps. Wide Open SpacesFeather eating commonly happens when chickens are overcrowded, bored or hot. Chickens kept in confined quarters peck one another more frequently than those who have access to free range where they can nibble plants and scratch for bugs. If your chickens must be confined, make sure you have 4 square feet of floor space per bird inside, with 10 square feet of outdoor space per bird. Provide one nest box for every three to five hens and 5 inches of feeder or roosting space. Spread straw or other deep litter on the floor and sprinkle scratch or other whole grain on the straw to give hens hours of foraging. Suspend a cabbage or ears of corn above floor level to satisfy pecking behavior in an appropriate manner. References Resources Photo Credits
Writer Bio Indulging her passion for vacation vagary through the written word on a full-time basis since 2010, travel funster Jodi Thornton-O'Connell guides readers to the unexpected, quirky, and awe-inspiring. Why do chickens eat feathers? It isn’t uncommon to see several chickens in a flock with missing feathers. Some eat their own, others eat their coop mates feathers. This can happen when chickens get bored, are stressed, infested with parasites, main feed is deficient in protein or are just molting. WHY DO CHICKENS EAT FEATHERS?Being aware of what can cause feather eating is important. With awareness, you can take the proper steps to help stop it from happening due to boredom, lack of protein in diet, stress and parasite infestation. In the case of molting, you can make it much more tolerable for them. 1. Lack of Protein in Chicken Feed Can Cause Feather Eating
SOLUTION: Feeding Your Chickens the Proper Protein Content for Their Age
2. Molting Chickens Will Eat FeathersDuring a chickens’ annual molt, it will lose its feathers. Some will lose more than others. Depending upon the chicken, some will only molt for 1 month and others up to 4 months. One of the most common reasons why a chicken will molt is to shed its old feathers in order to replace them with new, fluffy, healthy feathers. This will better prepare them for the cold winter weather ahead. Feathers are made up of close to 85% protein. When a chicken is going through a molt, they need increased protein to replace their old feathers with new one’s. Feathers are filled with protein. It isn’t uncommon to see a molting chicken eat feathers right off the ground. It’s ok to let them eat feathers, but why not offer them some other high protein treats such as live mealworms, crickets or chicken fodder? This is different than a chicken having a protein deficiency though. SOLUTION: High Protein Foods for Molting ChickensThe best solution if you have molting chickens is to make your flock as comfortable as possible during their molt. This includes offering them protein rich treats, not only for the increased protein, but also to get their mind off of the painful process of molting. Keeping them entertained by offering them special protein rich treats is sure to get their mind off of growing in those new pinfeathers! Below are some ways you can increase your flocks protein intake during a molt without breaking the bank.
3. Stressed Chickens Will Eat FeathersMissing feathers and a decrease in egg production are two very common signs that your flock is experiencing stress. It’s best to recognize the stressors early on and do what you can to eliminate the stress. What Stresses Chickens Out?WHAT CAUSES STRESS IN CHICKENS?
SOLUTION: How to Reduce Stress in Chickens
4. Bored Chickens Will Eat FeathersChickens that don’t have a chance to free range or those that have a limited amount of coop space are the most likely to get bored. Bored chickens are more likely to develop behavioral issues, including feather eating, both theirs and their coop mates!
SOLUTION: Boredom Busters for Backyard ChickensCHICKEN BOREDOM BUSTERS
5. Parasites Can Cause Feather Loss and Much More…What are Signs of a Parasite Infestation?
3 Most Common Chicken External Parasites
THE BEST SOLUTION IS PREVENTION: How to Prevent External Parasites in Chickens Naturally
Chickens will eat feathers for a variety of reasons. The most important thing is that you understand what can cause chickens to do this and make changes to help prevent it from happening in the first place. 5 Important Reasons Why Chickens Eat Feathers
Solutions to Top 5 Reasons Chickens Eating Feathers
About the AuthorJenny is a chicken enthusiast and has raised a variety of different breeds of chickens in her Northern California backyard for the past 23 years. She enjoys using incubators to incubate and hatch fertile chicken eggs so she can raise baby chicks from day 1. Some of her favorites include Crested Cream Legbars, Marans, Silkies, Orpingtons and Olive Eggers. These breeds make a beautiful basket of farm fresh eggs! Both she and her husband built their own chicken coop and she and her Dad built her current chick brooder. Jenny likes to share tips and tricks that she has learned over the years to make it easier for others to raise happy, healthy and productive chickens. Just last year, Jenny released a Special 9 Herb Chicken Nesting Box Blend that helps to increase hen egg production as well as keep chickens happy and healthy. Why do chickens peck each others feathers off?A: Pecking, also called picking, is almost always the result of high stress levels. When that happens, the birds will sometimes pluck each others' feathers out, and can really hurt one another. Those lowest in the pecking order may have bare spots on their backs or their heads.
What to spray on chickens to stop pecking?Nettex Anti-Feather Pecking Spray is a dual purpose spray to help prevent pecking among chickens and cleanse minor wounds. Deterrent spray with a strong odour and foul taste to help discourage biting, plucking and cannibalism.
|