Ok the general consensus is that feather pecking and eating stems from two possible sources
(a) boredom and (b) nutrition
So tell me this;
My hens free range most of the time and when not, there are only 3 or 4 in a 40 foot run which has perches, branches, toys, swinging cabbage etc. How the hell can it be boredom ? ?
if the layers pellets are supposed to contain everything a chicken needs, and are available adlib, with free range grazing, and lunchtime spinach, grapes, sweetcorn and peas as treats, and afternoon corn, and mixed grit, layers mash on cold mornings with seaweed or spinach .. how the hell can it be a nutrition problem
I had a problem with one of my girls feather eating .. and tried anti peck spray (worked on me-I hate the stink of the sticky nasty stuff .. but not the chicken- she regarded it as a smoky balsamic dressing)
Last resort, fitted a beak bit, but after a month, her beak was fully closing again so that didnt work.
Somebody said "give them cat food". good point, if protein deficiency is the problem it would certainly help....but hang on a minute. Shouldn't the manufacturers of the layers address this issue at source ? WHY aren't the pellets doing their job ?
If it's meant to be this way, where are the tins of chickomeat on the supermarket shelf
Today in desperation, mine got chopped corned beef with some leftover soya mince (rinsed of all salty additive). They nearly ripped my arm off to get at it ! I am at my wits end here.
On Sunday we went to a supplier. The birds of several varieties were in a stable block with soft sawdust, perches, toys, pecka blocks, food, water all bells and whistles. Initially they all looked healthy and lovely .. and we watched them for a while. Each stable had a large amount of feather pecking and eating going on. We chose a Gold Star from one, and a speckled star from another after rejecting a few with beak problems. When we got home, the Gold Star was making a meal of the speckled's tail.
Noooooo ! We went back the next day with her, and said we had no room for a proven feather eater and OUR nutritional provisions were questioned. Hold on a moment ... this bird was less than 24 hours from the supplier. It's THEIR nutrition if any that should be questioned not ours.
The husbandry was good .. every need attended to so again, not boredom causing it. We chose another speckled but that took some time as many in that barn were nomming on the other girls tails !
Can someone throw some light on this please cos we're about to throw in the towel and make a *%@$"* big vat of chicken soup ! ! ! ! !