We had this. Consider protein deficiency. Separate and feed high protein for two weeks. Sardines in tomato sauce. Fishy cat food. Mealtimes..plus the usual pellets of course. Worked for us and no reluctance after a year. Good luck. Mike Thank you Mike thats the plan. although I was only going for a...

If you give them some chick crumb mixed in with their layers that will up the protein content. and you can just keep using it till it's gone so there is no waste....helps with Calcium absorption as well as feather growth You say they have veg that is mostly Spinach ...I would also stop the Spinach ...

Is she the top hen? Just wondering whether she's trying to assert dominance now she's come into lay, especially if the others aren't yet. I do think protein is an issue too. Just with your comment about her always having been a bit aggressive. I don't think she was top hen (I have never been comple...

Thank you again Karen and Bob, she is seperated for the other birds health, she pulled one over this morning and the damage has got far worse since yesterday, all appeares peacfull in the main run and she is in the woodstore next to it, the girls can get to whitin an inch of each other and can see e...

I agree with a previous point about Mites, if they're dust bathing, do they peck them out of each other? Could be boredom, even if they have a lot of space they often don't leave the shelter and just peck and pull! If they're drawing blood, definitely separate for a while, but let them all see each...

Thanks for that Richard, it seems much less busy here than it used to be. She is eating them. I am in the process of seperating her as it is getting worse I think and am worried about the health of the others.
Thanks

Please read my post in chicken health page, re feather pulling, only putting this here as this page seems to get read more
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=53211#p738504
Thanks

An update.... It is one bird doing the damage, she is a white fenning sussex, and by far the biggest of the four, she has just started to lay in the last week so I am sure it is a protein issue, I have properly checked the other girls for lice/fleas etc and they are clear but while I was doing it I ...

Thank you again Karen, They are on pellets and have been since I got them, I add a little dried corn and give them a few meal worms and some veg occasionally(mostly spinach) I will up the meal worms and have a good look at them tomorrow evening.
Thanks
Barry

Hi Don't know about a thread but have you checked for lice or mites? And look for eggs at the base of feathers. Feather eating could be a couple of things - boredom, habit, bullying, not enough space for hens to get away etc etc. Is there a main culprit or are they all as bad? Or the other common r...

Hi, can someone point me at a thread about feather pulling and bald patches with scabs on please, my new girls are all getting at each other, I have in the back of my head that you spray em with purple stuff or is that only for bottoms.
Thaks for reading
Barry

Hi Barry getting up in the night is strange, i wonder if you're right about the protein. If so you want the sort that out - you don't want egg and feather eaters. if short on protein try dried mealworms, sunflower seeds and a mash made with their pellets (just to make sure they're getting enough) s...

Are the eggs thinner shelled & easier for them to break accidentally? As they get older they need more calcium. Limestone flour, oyster-shell grit, crushed baked eggshells. Also make sure they always have water, some say they can be looking for moisture. Thank you.. The eggs I think are normal ...

Both my sister in laws and my girls have in the last month or so started eating their own eggs ! I have had it hapen on the odd occation in the past but now they are eating about 4 a week... I only get about 10 eggs a week from the 3 girls who are two years old now. I have made no changes to their d...

An update... I am still using the red mite solution weekly and diatom after every cleanout, and so far have been mite free this year ... the next month will be the real test I suppose.