A few days ago I noticed that Rusty’s head feathers looked short and pale. I put it down to her moulting some head feathers.
A day later we noticed that Freckles was pecking at Rusty’s head while they were perched together. My heart sank. I couldn’t bear this to be happening again. Why does this keep happening to my flock! They have plenty of space and plenty of interest in the run and my research says that due to their small size seramas are happy in a small space. To seramas our run is a huge space.
It isn’t malicious either because Freckles and Rusty are the best of friends and are inseparable, but that in itself means that they are always sitting together and there is plenty of opportunity for Freckles to peck at Rusty.
The only positive thing is that they moult continuously and therefore new feathers should come back in rather than having to wait a year and with her silky feathers it’s not so obvious that she is missing feathers.
I think we need to add some more seramas as soon as possible. I think that these two are like a flock of two within the larger flock and need more girls of their own size to interact with and to mix it up a bit.
The next week is forecast very cold and frosty though and also because of the bird flue there is restricted movement of birds until after 28th February. This means we may have to wait to the end of this month before thinking of adding more girls.
Rusty’s head is missing outer feathers
Rusty with her head up
Rusty with her head down
Rusty and Freckles at the food dish
The good news is that we haven’t seen this happening over the last few days. It just seemed to be on one day. Maybe Rusty’s pins were just too irresistible. I really hope that this is the case.
I had thought that as we lose girls we would replace them with seramas in the future so to have this problem among the little girls would be so awful. I am hoping that this is just a blip.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
Lets hope it is a one off.
I am really hoping so. I would absolutely hate to have this happening again. Rusty is such a pretty little thing too. I really want more seramas but have to be patient for a bit longer.
It is very frustrating but does not look as bad as you no doubt feel it is! I am horrified that, since the confinement law, one of my pens has birds missing feathers on the front of their necks. I’m grinning and bearing it, but really hate that it’s happening. Unlike yours, mine have insufficient space in the current restrictions, but at least that pen is producing eggs – there are so few from the other pen that I’m starting to think that egg eating has started. I am not optimistic that the ban will be lifted at the end of the month, but am finding the welfare issues increasingly problematic, whilst trying to provide some form of enrichment. Sorry for the whinge!
Oh how I feel for you. I hate the plucking more than anything but there is only so much we can do. Egg eating is a problem I haven’t had …. yet! I can imagine how frustrating that would be. Whinge away, I know this is causing chicken keepers a nightmare. I am just lucky that my run is contained and roofed. Even so I still get a lot of wet area and now the thought of Rusty losing feathers makes me frustrated all over again. Lets just hope all these things pass with time.
do not know if this could be an activity that would help…when we get a lot of snow and the girls do not want to come out, I hang some kale, or lettuce, or other greens using a long string so that the bunch can freely swing when pecked. The chickens actually stand in a circle around it and have a peck when the bunch swings their way. It is fun to watch but all too soon the treat is gone. Wonder if a cabbage would last longer?
I give the girls greens in the morning and fruit in the afternoon, usually apple or pear to keep them pecking at it for longer. I sometimes put the greens in the square holders so that the girls have to peck at it through the wire. They also love to take it from my fingers. I could try hanging some greens.
I don’t think this is a boredom thing though as it is only Freckles doing it to Rusty. I think they are just so close and spend all their time together. There are often four bigger girls in one area and the two little girls together somewhere else. I think more seramas would help so that they are part of a bigger group instead of just a twosome. I need to wait until the end of February though.
When I notice feather picking with my girls, I immediately up their protein. My butcher saves beef fat trimmings for me, so I either grind them or cut them into small pieces and then quickly brown them on the stove. They will pick at it if it’s raw, but when cooked, they go crazy for it. I also do this for them when they’re molting. It’s pure protein and always seems to give them a boost. The feather picking stops pretty quickly, unless of course it’s due to bullying. In that case, the bully goes in bully jail for a few days!
I am giving them sunflower hearts each morning so they are getting daily protein plus sometimes some fish. This isn’t a protein problem or a bullying problem. These two are practically joined at the hip and that’s part of the problem. They are such a tight little pair and are never apart. It probably started with some irresistible pins and it quickly becomes a habit. I really think more seramas in the flock would help so that these two are part of a bigger group.