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Barnyard Buddies:  Chicken feather picking  |
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SheilaC
True Blue Farmgirl
1948 Posts
Sheila
Vermont
USA
1948 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 01 2008 : 10:41:42 AM
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| HELP! Two of my hens are having the feathers pecked out of their backs in front of their tails. Really bad. All I have are girls, but it HAS been very cold lately, so they've been shut up in their building a few days, for most of the days. I'm not sure what to do for "Mercy" and "Gracie". The chaickens have been together since they were one day old, and we've never had any trouble with them before. Thanks for any info! |
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PlumCreekMama
True Blue Farmgirl
730 Posts
Heather
Iowa
USA
730 Posts |
Posted - Feb 01 2008 : 2:00:02 PM
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| How old are they? They could be molting. |
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SheilaC
True Blue Farmgirl
1948 Posts
Sheila
Vermont
USA
1948 Posts |
Posted - Feb 01 2008 : 4:24:52 PM
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| I don't think so. Most of them (I think these two did too) went through that in the fall (or do they molt again so soon?) They are about 10 months old. That would certainly put my mind at ease, but I'm thinking it might be other. |
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BarefootGoatGirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1495 Posts
Corrine
North Carolina
USA
1495 Posts |
Posted - Feb 01 2008 : 4:28:28 PM
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how cold is it? i never actualy shut my chickens in, but gave them access to the run at all times. too little space is most likely your problem.
What we write today slipped into our souls some other day when we were alone and doing nothing.
-Brenda Ueland
http://quilandneedle.blogspot.com/ |
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SheilaC
True Blue Farmgirl
1948 Posts
Sheila
Vermont
USA
1948 Posts |
Posted - Feb 01 2008 : 4:32:19 PM
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| when it gets around zero or below zero or like ten and strong winds we don't let them out in the run area. Any thoughts on that? Maybe we should? This is our first year with hens. |
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BarefootGoatGirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1495 Posts
Corrine
North Carolina
USA
1495 Posts |
Posted - Feb 02 2008 : 12:36:12 AM
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maybe try opening up the coop durring the warmest part of the day. if it's too cold, they wont go out, but giving them the option might be good. my stepmom raises chickens in MT and my grandmother did in SD and i can never rememeber then locking the chickens up in cold weather.
What we write today slipped into our souls some other day when we were alone and doing nothing.
-Brenda Ueland
http://quilandneedle.blogspot.com/ |
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cajungal
True Blue Farmgirl
2349 Posts
Catherine Farmgirl Sister #76
Houston Area
Texas
2349 Posts |
Posted - Feb 02 2008 : 05:19:25 AM
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Good Morning!
Our temps. don't get that cold, but I still don't shut them up. Corrine is probably right....too little space. They're feeling crowded and turn to their "canibalistic" ways. When I've had chickens start to peck each other I've separated them until the wounds are scabbed over.
One thing that seems to distract them from pecking each other is to put a head of cabbage in the coop.....even better to hang it up and let it dangle down low. It seems to give them the opportunity to get their pecking out of their system. It's fun to watch, too.
Blessings
Catherine
One of the best compliments from one of my daughters: "Moma, you smell good...like dirt." |
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PlumCreekMama
True Blue Farmgirl
730 Posts
Heather
Iowa
USA
730 Posts |
Posted - Feb 02 2008 : 06:39:50 AM
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| Yeah, they could be bored and cramped being shut in. Could it be possible that these 2 didn't molt when the others did? Do they have open wounds, or are the feathers just gone? Chickens can go into molt if they don't have enough food and light, so could this be happening? |
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Barnyard Buddies: Chicken feather picking |
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Chicken feather picking
