Tag: Molting

Feather Picking Among Chickens

Possible Reasons For This Problem & What To Do About It

Feather picking in chickens is a behavior where birds peck at and pull out feathers from themselves or other birds. This can range from minor feather damage to baldness and, in severe cases, injury. Why do chickens engage in this behavior? There are several reasons to consider, so let’s take a look at the most common ones and see if we can get to the bottom of this problem. FYI: Written by a real chicken keeper, not AI. 🙂

Common Causes

Nutritional Deficiency:

Protein Deficiency: Chickens may pick feathers if their diet lacks adequate protein, as feathers are a source of keratin, a protein.
Mineral Imbalances: Deficiencies or imbalances in minerals like sodium or calcium can also trigger feather picking.
Note: Just because the feed bag or retailer claims it is a high-quality, healthy feed doesn’t mean it is. Switch it up by buying different name-brand feed and supplementing with fresh foods such as fruits, greens, eggs, grains, and meat. Remember this the next time you consider throwing away your table scraps. If deficiencies are suspected, especially during molting when feather growth demands more nutrients, consider adding nutritional supplements.
Ensure chickens are receiving a balanced diet with the right levels of protein (16-20%, depending on their stage) and minerals.


Stress / Common Causes:


Overcrowding: When too many birds are kept in a small space, stress and competition for resources can lead to feather picking. Ensure that chickens have enough space to move freely. The recommended space is about 2-3 square feet per bird inside the coop and 8-10 square feet per bird in the outdoor run.
Boredom or Lack of Enrichment: Chickens need mental and physical stimulation, which is especially important for confined birds. Boredom can drive them to feather pick as a way to occupy themselves.
What to do: Chickens are curious, so add things that are new and different. They are also foragers, so give them the opportunity to scratch around the coop looking for treats. Provide perches, dust baths, and items like hanging vegetables or toys to keep chickens occupied and reduce boredom.

Comfort

Birds living in an uncomfortable environment, such as too hot or cold. Especially too hot.
You can learn about how to manage your flock in the heat HERE.

Hierarchical Behavior:


Dominance: Chickens establish a pecking order, and feather picking can be a way for dominant birds to assert control over others. To ensure a stable and peaceful flock, avoid introducing new birds abruptly and manage the flock size appropriately.
Friendly advice: If certain birds are persistently picking feathers, identify the aggressors. They may need to be separated from the flock temporarily or permanently. Why? Because intervention is key to preventing the behavior from becoming a chronic issue.

Health Issues:


Parasites: External parasites like mites or lice can cause irritation, leading chickens to pick at their feathers. Regularly check for and treat external parasites. Dust baths can help in natural parasite control.

One More Thing…

Keep in mind that chickens lose feathers for other reasons which are completely normal, such as:
Molting, which can happen at least once a year, sometimes more.
A good egg producer can have poor feather growth because all her energy is busy making eggs for you.
Broody hens often pull out their own feathers when nesting.

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    Why Your Hens Aren’t Laying Eggs

    Hens Not Filling the Egg Basket? Here’s a Few Reasons Why


    First of all, don’t panic, egg production changes for many reasons, and they aren’t all bad, so let’s narrow it down and take a look at all the different scenarios. We’ll start with the most common reasons.
    Molting
    Every year your chickens will molt, in other words, lose their feathers and grow new ones. Unfortunately, it also means most hens won’t lay eggs until their molt cycle is done. However, there are variations to that rule. The molting process is fully explained HERE.
    The Broody Hen
    When a hen is broody, it means she wants to hatch eggs and raise chicks. Some breeds are more broody than others, for instance, Silkies. When a hen decides to go broody, there is little you can do to change her mind! She’ll stay in her nest and sit on her eggs, other bird’s eggs, or nothing at all! Remember, just because you don’t have a rooster, doesn’t mean your hen won’t go broody.  A hen will become broody and sit on eggs whether they’re fertilized or not.
    The pic below is a broody Silkie, notice how she has a flattened appearance or looks spread out. That’s a classic look for a broody hen. Unfortunately, she will not lay eggs during this time. More Information.

    Broody Hen

    Seasonal
    As the days become shorter it is a signal that winter is on its way. It’s natural for hens to lay only a couple of eggs per week in the winter months, sometimes none at all. Hot weather can also affect egg production, here in Phoenix, production can slow or even stop when the heat becomes extreme. Summer Heat Tips.
    Stress
    If you move your birds, add new birds, or anything that has changed their routine, is a good enough reason to take time off from laying eggs.  Sometimes a predator scare can upset a flock and they’ll stop laying for a week or more.  Another important factor is your bird’s feed. Make sure they’re consuming quality feed, and I don’t mean chicken scratch. Protein and calcium are essential.
    Chickens need adequate space, overcrowding makes for unhappy birds, and this is especially important, why? Because happy hens fill the egg basket! One more thing, pests can also cause a stressful environment, so make sure your birds are not bothered by mites.
    Sickness
    A sick hen will not lay, ever. All I can tell you about that is to look for the most common signs of illness. Watery eyes, droopy tail, Hen doesn’t leave the nest, coughing, diarrhea, etc.   A sick bird is pretty obvious and should be isolated from the flock immediately.
    Let’s Not Leave Out the Inevitable…Age
    Unfortunately, all hens reach the age when they no longer lay eggs. Of course, some continue to surprise us with an egg well after their productive years. It may surprise you to learn that hens usually only lay eggs until they’re around 3 years old. Their first 2 years are the most productive, then, fewer and fewer as time passes. Except for those special ladies that don’t agree with that statement, and I’ve had a few!

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    All About Molting

    Every year your chickens will molt, in other words, lose their feathers and grow new ones. Unfortunately, it also means most hens will not lay eggs until their molt cycle is done. However, there are exceptions to that rule. There are hens whose rate of lay is not affected, but you can expect their molt time to last longer... CONTINUE READING

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