[Mrs.Apron]

Hi everyone,

Sorry I haven't been on the forum much lately, but please, please advise me.

To cut a very long story short, we have two hens left, and one is plucking and eating the other's feathers.  We've tried everything, but the situation is just getting worse.  Spray no longer seems to be working, and with winter upon us I'm really worried about her.

The hens have complete free-ranging freedom, plenty space, plenty to do, plenty protein in their diet, etc. 

The only solution I can come up with is to re-home the one doing the plucking, into a larger free-range flock and hope she settles in.  Then to continue to nurse the plucked one back to full strength before re-homing her too.  Will this work?  Will she be desperately lonely in the meantime?

Getting more hens is not an option for us.

I would value your thoughts.  Thanks everyone.

[sneezer]

Hi
sounds horrid, theres a couple of things I can suggest firstly have you checked for any lice on the one being plucked? secondly you can get beak bits to put on which will stop her being able to pull feathers out, but continue to eat and drink ok, hope this helps and you can get your girl to stop being this way.

[Mrs.Apron]

Thanks for your advice.  No mites, but will look into getting a beak bit. Thanks again.