The Poultry Keeper

Suestamp · Joined: 23 Jul 2008 Posts: 2

I have 3 hens, 1 Maran and 2 White Sussex all until today living very happily together. The Maran has this afternoon decided to pluck away at the 2 White Sussex and has drawn blood on one of them. This is just above their tails. It looks as if she is plucking feathers and eating them. They are fed on layers pellets and have grit available in the coop. The Maran is laying an egg every day and also 1 of the White Sussex. Please help what is happening?

kated · Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Posts: 2089 Location: norfolk

Once they get a taste for feathers it is very difficult to stop, but start by giving your chucks some extra protein. Tinned cat food is good, but don't go mad, just about a flat dessert spoon each 3 times a week. Make sure the red marks/bloody area is covered on your wounded chickens. Purple stock spray is good here. Hang up greens for your chickens to give them some stimulation and if you can, get some anti-peck spray (pet shops sell it for cage birds) as a short term deterrent. It is extremely bitter and will stop the pecking until it wears off.

Suestamp · Joined: 23 Jul 2008 Posts: 2

Kated many thanks for your reply. What a sleepless night I have had. Can you guess I am a newbie. Am getting the two sprays and tinned cat food today so hope to nip it in the bud.

kated · Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Posts: 2089 Location: norfolk

Good luck! Be prepared for it not to work. I once re-homed 3 RSPCA hens which systematically oven-readied themselves over a week! I ended up having to put each one in a separate cage, next door to one another. I never did stop it completely as one of them then started on itself.