[chickadee11]

Hi I got a some new chickens a week ago and am having a real issue with feather plucking a nd eating.  Read up on this and have given them some hard boiled egg with yogurt. Any idea how long it will take to stop?

Isolated the worst chicken, a white sussex, but now the bluebells are doing it to the speckledies.  Thei outer feathers are gone from the top of base of their tail feathers.  Can't isolate them as don't have the space. Can I spray the speckledies with something to make the feathers taste nasty? I don't have the feather pecking spray and can't fine it locally.

[ANHBUC]

If they are only young chickens it could be down to the diet they have been fed.  They should have had chick crumb for 6 to 8 weeks then growers pellets until they are ready to lay when they are put on layers pellets.  They are all different and have the right balance for their development.  Try them on some dried mealworms which should help with feather production but make sure they have their main food available all day.  They will not overeat so they need access to it all day along with fresh water.   

[chickadee11]

I have given them mealworms but they weren't impressed and didn't eat them, I'll put a dish in the run with them though, they are getting slightly more adventurous with treats. I've been putting a tonic in their water too.

The birds are only approx 19-20 weeks old.

[ANHBUC]

Best not to give them treats if they are feather pecking they need all the nutrients contained in their feed.  If they are laying give them layers pellets, if they are not yet laying growers pellets.

What tonic have you been giving them?  How much space do your hens have during the day?

[chickadee11]

The tonic we got from the chicken breeder, it's called Liquid Tonic with added seaweed, made by Nettex.

the plucking/eating feathers started with just one bird plucking the day we got them so they took that one back and we swapped it. Then a day later another started so we isolated it, now 2 others have started!

The isolated one has laid 3 eggs. One of the others has laid a soft shelled egg. They are on layers pellets, I bought them from the breeder for consistency but I'll get growers pellets tomorrow.

There are 5 chickens in a 3m x 1m run, I know this is not very large and the intention is to let them out into a 10m2 run once they've settled in. They have things hanging up and perches in the run but tend to all sit at the back preening and dust bathing....and obviously pecking!   They are very nervous and when I let them into the large run on Saturday they all freaked out when a pigeon flew over!  I need to trim wings as the gate is only 5' high and one would have flown out if I hadn't been there.

[Sassy]

The feather pecking could be down to boredom as you currently only have them in a small space. Try giving them more space. You can use an anti-peck spray which is supposed to taste awful, but the reports on here are that it is not veryy successful. However, it may work if used at the same time as they are given more space. As they are peckinng at the base of the tail do check they are not carrying any passengers such as lice. Putting them onto growers may help as it sound as though they have only had layers and may be a little nutrient deficient,

The soft-shelled egg is something that often happens when they are coming into lay - getting into practice!

When you trim wings remember to only do one wing on each bird

[ANHBUC]

If they are starting to lay you can leave them on layers but as Sassy said they may have a deficiency.  I am sure they will get to like mealworms which will give them some extra protein to help with the feathers.  Tinned tuna is another good source of protein for them but try and get it in spring water rather than brine or oil. 

If you put netting over the larger run that might be better for them.  Scaffold netting is cheap and will give some light shade which they will need for sunny days.  They are better with more space so that could be the problem or just that they are different breeds and have not been brought up together.  They will be establishing a pecking order so it should calm down soon. 

[chickadee11]

Thanks for advice, I will let them out into the large run tonight and supervise.  We used to keep our ex-bats in this run and they didn't escape.

Just spoke to my husband and the two bluebells are at this moment sat on top of one of the speckledy's in the run..is this normal? 

I am not enjoying all this bullying at all and hope the extra space will sort them out.

[ANHBUC]

Mine pile on top of each other when dust bathing. 

Do you have more than one feeder and drinker as they can starve/dehydrate if the bullies are not letting them feed and drink.  It might be worth you letting the bullies in to the larger area for a while to give the others a bit of respite and a chance to feed and drink.    

[chickadee11]

We have two drink stations and two feed stations, had bullying with last lot of chicks so bought extra food containers this time.

Let chickens out tonight, including isolated chicken..guess what, 3 hours and not one stolen feather!  A bit sad that the run is too small as we got an eglu cube with run extension hoping that we could leave the chicks in it while we're at work and let them out when we're here but I don't think it's going to work out that way.  We're going to try to get mesh to cover the run as the speckledies are very flighty and I think they'll master the 6 foot fencing in no time.

Feel so much happier that the chickens were happier together this evening though. Thanks ever so much for the advice :-)

[ANHBUC]

It is usually the reason you see so many advertised on eBay that are only a few months old.  People think that the runs will be big enough and soon find out they are not.  At least you know what the cause is and are prepared to rectify it so that your hens are happy.  Well done, you will be rewarded with lovely fresh eggs and hours of entertainment.