AboutAbi Expertise I CAN'T ANSWER QUESTIONS ON ANIMALS OTHER THAN CHICKENS/DUCKS/GEESE- I WILL TRY BUT THEY ARE NOT MY SPECIALIST SUBJECT- PLEASE DO NOT ASK ME QUESTIONS ABOUT BUDGIES, FINCHES, PARROTS, COCKATIELS OR OTHER 'EXOTIC' BIRDS. I can answer questions on pretty much all CHICKEN breeds, including fancy and bantam birds. I can give advice on how to get the best egg production, brightest yolk colours and darkest egg shell colours, breeding (using broody hens, not incubators), bird problems/illnesses. I can give advice on all aspects of basic chicken care but I breed chickens for my own pleasure only, I do not often show or sell my birds.
Experience I own and breed a wide range of chickens, but I speciallise in cochins and crevecour bantams; crevecours have a large crest (an afro!) so I can answer questions on problems concerning them; cochins have feathered legs, which leads to no end of problems which I have experienced! I also own a large flock of domestic, rescued 'battery' hens, and a single maran hen, Hilda, who is the matriarch of her flock, so I can give advice on how to get the best colour of maran eggs!
Question Hi, I need help! I have 4 pet chickens about 9 months old (black/copper marans)living in a 4x6 shed with 4x6 run, with daily access to garden as well. Two of my girls are suffering badly from feather loss under the neck and around the sides and abdomen.I have treated them with ivermectin, sprayed the shed for mites but nothing seems to be helping. Some of the feathers look broken and I thought this might be pecking, but I haven't seen any squabbling to speak of! Despite being bald and chilly,they all seem to be bright and in good health otherwise, and all are laying lovely eggs. Many thanks for any help given to this struggling chicken owner!
Answer Is their skin red or raw? Last time we had a chicken like this it WAS bullying but we never saw her getting bullied. Try going out with some REALLY tasty food (raisins, worms, chopped spinach) and see if much squabbling goes on, and who it centres around. If it is around them, you can bet it is the the other girls pecking them. I doubt they would be stressed enough to pull their own feathers out. It is not the feather loss but the damage to them that suggests to me they are being bullied.
'Around the sides' is that the tops of their wings? And is 'abdomen' their lower back? These are typical places they would get a pecking!
If you think that I am right then I would suggest getting soom gloopy Stockholm Tar, and painting it on thick with a paintbrush, on the pecked areas. Try to avoid sore bits. This tastes to disgusting that the other girls will try it once and then never do it again!
Thanks for your question, let me know if I am right in that it is bullying :)
