Stop Feather Picking FOR GOOD with These Simple Tips

[@pamcoppernoll1004]

Nothing to do with chickens…Love your glasses

[@nogames8982]

For the last few years, I have fed all my chickens, no matter their age, grower feed in fermented mash form. And I have oyster shell on the side. They need the extra protein. I’ve never had any problems with feather pickers or egg eaters. and they seem to have much easier molts. They don’t lose nearly as many feathers. when most of them seem to go into molt in the fall, I actually will add some black oil, sunflower seeds daily. and don’t forget, chickens are not vegetarian. Get them out there to eat the bugs if possible. If not, give them meat. Or eggs.

[@ajalicea1091]

No Pick works great. Use as needed. This is the first time I've had to use it for 2-3 years. Like you, I will wet the mash. I also ferment whole grain scratch. Once a week I will scramble up some eggs to give to my birds. When I use eggs, I save the egg shells and roast them. Once cooled, I'll crumble the shells and give back to the ladies.

[@DuckTunes79]

You mean “peck no more?” I tried it and it didn’t help.

[@daisygurl3601]

OMGosh! I bought the same romper from Duluth! You’re rockin’ it! Our barred rocks always look atrocious when they molt. As always, thank you for your wisdom. Continued blessings…daisy

[@BrenReaume-df2wu]

I have had feather picking in my flock and the feathers are not growing back. I've tried some different powders you mix with food but nothing. I do ferment there feed but extremely high temps here and they stopped eating it. Now I wet it..I had a hen who has been having laying issues and white stuff oozing from vent. The other chickens went crazy picking at her until she started bleeding. It happened so fast. It wouldn't stop bleeding so my first Vet visit. Her vent was damaged. I've isolated her even after a bath two still went after her vent. I'm praying they will stop because I know she doesn't like being in there. She has a lot of room and it's inside my covered run. Funny how they can't be apart but first sign of blood and all in for the kill...love all your videos 😊

[@WelcometoChickenlandia]

I hope she recovers quickly and peace returns to the flock!

[@missvenomdoll6]

I have partridge silkie who is a year and 3 months old. She just molted recently and her feathers came back black! She’s gorgeous! I was shocked. Her molt was rough. I honestly thought she was getting picked on. Her name is bluey. Now I’ll have to call her black beauty ❤

[@Afarmsteadjourney]

Dahlia, this video was a very timely one for me. I'm so glad that you posted it. I'm having problems with 2 feather pickers in my flock. They're not doing it out of aggression. They are doing it impulsively and opportunistically. all but a couple of the other chickens have lost feathers to them. And they are indeed eating the feathers. I feed all of them both mash and crumbles, but they like the mash the most. I also give them black soldier fly larvae and black oil sunflower seeds with their scratch grains when they get treats. I think that your idea about fermenting the mash is brilliant because I've noticed that the group go through a lot of oyster shells that I put out as a supplement. This tells me that they're not eating the parts of the feed that they need for calcium, so it stands to reason that they could be missing other valuable nutrients that are causing them to exhibit this behavior. I also think that they might be a bit crowded on their roost. I need to space the two bars farther apart. I've been negligent in doing this because it's going to require me to do a bit of deconstruction of parts of the coop. Additionally, until recently, all eight of the girls were trying to use one of the two nesting boxes. I decided to put a fake egg in both of them, and now they lay in both boxes. They are prolific layers, so I believe that they could use a few more nesting boxes, so I have purchased 4 more that I will be assembling and placing in their coop. And finally, while they do have 10 square feet per chicken in the run, I'm going to steal some of the space from the coop that my older chickens are in because they have a lot more than they need and incorporate it into their run. Thanks for the great tips! Sorry to be so "long winded!" 😄

[@WelcometoChickenlandia]

I read the whole thing! Sounds like you have a great setup. ❤

[@Afarmsteadjourney]

@@WelcometoChickenlandia thanks so much! 🥰

[@lilyavery8230]

Look...there's a feather I'd like to pick with you...the real issue? You never said where you got that fantastic outfit! That, and I walk away from this being scolded...as soon as you said "flock block" I opened a new window and you're like "don't do that yet" and came right back...he he...my Lucy all of a sudden has a patch of feathers missing on her neck, and let me tell you - she has the best 80's hairdo of feathers on her, she be like "don't touch my hair" I had a chicken who started bullying intensely and sadly I re-homed her...now my flock is quiet again...literally the girls did NOT want to go to bed, so I made the decision for the betterment of my flock, I need peace. Don't judge me, please! Thanks for sharing! You're the best. :)

[@WelcometoChickenlandia]

No judgement, ever! You’re doing great! ❤❤❤❤

[@WelcometoChickenlandia]

Oh the romper is from Duluth Company!

[@lsautomotive760]

Lmao

[@alison8725]

I have a situation where I have hens taking on the “rooster role” and I have a victim who looks like she has been over-mated by a roo. I know it’s happening because I witnessed her being mounted by the hens….what can I do about that?

[@flatwaterbeliever7865]

​@@alison8725lol californiachick😂

[@lisagayhart2482]

I learned the hard way … when we had bad feed from the store . Chickens are omnivores. They need some meat .fish also do something similar if they starving for protein. Tuna, raw hamburger, chopped hot dogs. I also do bugs

[@krickette5569]

President Dahlia, I got your book in the mail today and this evening there you were in Sow The Land's video! How fun is that! I've already started reading your book and once I finish it I am giving it to my Doctor. She and her hubby just bought 3 acres and want to start a flock of chickens. I figured your book would be a good way for them to learn.

[@WelcometoChickenlandia]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@keviniverson5569]

Things that stress chickens out like loud noises....... like all the 4th of July fireworks in our neighborhood......😅

[@WelcometoChickenlandia]

Not looking forward to that!

[@Sasklahoma]

OMG have you seen the stone cottage chicken coop on “my self reliance” I would love to hear your comments.

[@cryptor3hab300]

Thank you so much for your guidance. It’s 4th of July and my teenage chicks are unsettled. I’m now sitting on a bucket with my German Shepherd in the coop. They are so much more settled! Also I realized because of the extra sized coop and roosting bars, low chick on the totem pool was alone. I took one out and she’s no longer on her own! Thank you for all you do and share. BTW, I have a t-shirt on the way. 😘

[@WelcometoChickenlandia]

Did you order a t-shirt from the Chickenlandia store? I didn’t see an order come in and I want to make sure I didn’t miss it. I was at a conference and now that I’m back I’m sick! Let me know if you ordered something so I can check if I missed it. ❤️

[@cryptor3hab300]

@@WelcometoChickenlandia I certainly did. Order #9711. Take care of yourself, and feel better soon!!

[@WelcometoChickenlandia]

I see the order! It says it was delivered on the 26th. Have you received it?

[@cryptor3hab300]

@@WelcometoChickenlandia No, I hope I didn’t miss-type my address!

[@cryptor3hab300]

@@WelcometoChickenlandia I found it! I know it hasn’t been that long since I picked up my mail, especially since there only 2 pieces of junk mail. Now on to opening the package!

[@cowgirlprepper86]

FANTASTIC video! My husband is listening and nodding his head as I exclaim, “Isn’t this great? This explains all the feathers in the dust bath. It’s a big dust bath, sandbox-style. The feathers are only in there and not in other places.

[@WelcometoChickenlandia]

Glad it was helpful!

[@bigdadens]

Do you know a goat person that’s as AWESOME as you? I love your style and the way you take time explain everything.

[@wandarettinger5674]

I had some feather picking...rooster booster to the rescue and diced liver.

[@patty9265]

Love your outfit and that color looks good on you. Out of my 6 one year old hens had one who was low on pecking order and now that my 5 , three month old are out she's pecking the feathers out of them. Hope that doesn't happen when my 12 day old get out there. Going to go watch that video. Thanks

[@user-3L3C12cR]

I love the jumper shorts. I found a chicken shirt. Love it

[@linda7999]

I just bought your book. I am now impatient as I await delivery!

[@WelcometoChickenlandia]

Thanks so much!

[@kimberlyraz6343]

Something else to check for....look at your other frizzles and see if they are molting now. I have noticed that mine seem to have a different molting schedule than my regular chickens and right now ALL of my frizzles look pretty sad lol....if that is the case, then she'll probably feather back out good by late fall. I think that they may just need longer to complete a hard molt so that is why they start in spring and go till fall.

[@cassiec9961]

What's the difference between picking feathers vs molting? I'm my experience the first molt is horrifying. But honestly I'm not fully sure. My second year chickens are gorgeous but I've got two that I'm not sure what's going on. Thank you in advance. You are so awesome!!

[@1MSally1965]

Feather picking the cause. Molting is where the feathers fall out on their own. Chickens replace all their feathers once a year. My chickens molt late fall and it looks like someone killed a bunch of chickens in there! It’s insane how many feathers they lose!

[@BonnieWork]

I love all the info that you give on caring for chickens. I didn’t know anything when I got mine one year ago. Thank you, and I think you new jumpsuit is cute.

[@infinitelyblessed359]

THank you!!!I've got more work to do in the coop. This was soooo helpful :)

[@WelcometoChickenlandia]

You're so welcome!

[@amberlee7777]

Adorable Romper!!! I didn't see the Flock Block recipe? I have a sassy chicken that pecks the girls when she is on the roost or if they don't get up there fast enough. I scold her but she doesn't listen lol. I try to pick her up and hold her and tell her to settle down, but she keeps doing it, only at night time though. and they have a lot of room on the roost, they actually won't even use the full length of it, they scrunch SO close together all the time lol.

[@WelcometoChickenlandia]

If they’re not losing feathers from it I wouldn’t worry. That’s normal pecking order behavior and it’s important for her to maintain her status. Here’s the recipe! kzbin.info/www/bejne/onTTZnR7p9ZomJIsi=YAkEchWiZb19p1na

[@adriennescooper7024]

Cute jumpsuit!! I love that you can laugh at yourself. I have a couple of Polish chickens that pluck each other’s head feathers out. Even if they have the entire yard, they will sit next to each other and groom each other‘s feathers out. I have tried so many different things and nothing is working. I have tried hen heeler, peck no more, Aquaphor, A&E ointment, Pine tar, separating them until the feathers are mostly grown back in. Nothing helps. They will pull every feather completely out leaving holes and scabs. I have read everything I can find and watched every video. Please help.

[@angelareynolds1111]

Omg I ❤ your outfit!!!! Soooo cute!!! I'm dealing with this problem with my chickens that I adopted!! Its been so atressful. Ive been feeding them scratch and peck!!

[@cindy-dwellings-theheartof7858]

Great info! You mentioned linking a “all about feed” video…will you share please? I always wondered about all that powdery stuff left in the scratch and peck feed…I will start to wet or ferment!!!

[@WelcometoChickenlandia]

Oops I forgot to put that in the description. I’ll do that now!

[@WelcometoChickenlandia]

Here you go! kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6XUeJWvosuno6ssi=LdW_kyTDqR9_hthE

[@lakota123max]

hii im glad u went over this subject! i have 8 hens that have free rein over my entire backyard and are very fat and happy...but...and a big but....the orpington that is the favorite of everyone is feather picking the lead hen that is a wyandotte.....this is the first year she has done this so bad! There is a problem with the lead hen...she is lame on her left hip and has been like this for the last 4 yrs ...she came like that...and it has never been a problem... she is still the lead hen....but at nite when they are in the coop Isabelle picks her feathers...sometimes outside too when they are laying under the bushes resting...i am torn between removing the lame lead hen...or getting a saddle for her ? i am looking at Amazon right now and i dont really know what to do...i cant ferment their feed right now because it is too hot...when i did try it none of my hens would eat it lol . love ur show!!!

[@lucybeevor9148]

Love your outfit!!!!!! 😀

[@bluevoid5171]

Yeah I have 5 hens that run my yard and they have 10 different spots to lay there eggs and they all fight over ONE SPOT. It sucks cause when one hen goes broody.....she had all the hens eggs under her cause they won't lay anywhere else

[@greatfulchristian4314]

Ty mrs President Of chickenlandia :)

[@AuntBsSouthernSerpents]

My question is not related to feather picking. When you scramble eggs for your chickens what do you use olive oil, butter or other oil to fry them in?

[@mickybearden9641]

Awesome Jumpsuit!!! Love Love

[@kimm59]

Great information thank you

[@dixiehulings9082]

First time chicken mom and I want to make a first aid kit for chickens. Have you made a video on this? I looked through some of your videos but didn't see it.

[@brendascott4191]

Love your outfit

[@dncnews.510]

❤Tq moom I h'v got good information from u tq somuch VANKARAKUNTA.

[@Gina-w9k]

Do you think your nesting boxes would work for an Orpington or a Brahma? I'm using plastic totes at the moment. None of the chickens seem to mind but they take up quite a lot of space.

[@SundryTalesOfConstance79WESTY]

Nooice! 😎 STOC

[@carolejean63]

I have hen still laying through molts

[@jnorahmacleod8]

Hi Dahlia, you mentioned dust bath pecking is just preening. My (2) 10 month olds have been together from the start but recently one of them feather picks the other-only when she’s resting?! I’ve done it all including the pick-no-more however that stuff made it worse. It was like covering the pecked chicken with special sauce and now she’s more delicious than ever to the bad chicken. Why is bad chicken being such a jerk?

[@silviadias7791]

Earlier this year I lost a hen to a coyote, and ever since then the flock dynamics have changed. I have one hen (Cassy) who I thought had gone broody, but in reality she was hiding in the nesting boxes. I knew she was being picked on and put some blue kote on her neck. As long as it stayed on she didn't lose feathers. I saw that the other hens and the rooster were aggressive to her so I separated her to her own area. I tried putting a hen in with her that she grew up with and they immediately started fighting. Cassy has since started re-growing her feathers. It took about 2.5 weeks for her to start laying again. She has tried a few times to get into the other outdoor run to be with them. Today I saw the rooster and a few hens trying to get to her through the fence. I believe the flock has disowned her completely. Do I get another hen or a rooster of her very own?!

[@michellesparks1590]

HI! I really appreciate your videos. I live in the Bellingham area and was wondering if you have any suggestions for dealing with a rooster problem. We need to rehome 5 Black Australorp boys. :( Do you know of a good place. I am hoping to avoid craigslist as we have already got some weird responses.

[@cindy-dwellings-theheartof7858]

Thank you so much!!!

[@aphillips5376]

I have can Eglu Cube with a 9 x 13 run for 3 chickens. The floor is sand but I do let them out on the grass to graze almost every day for an hour or two. Have seen definite feather picking. One is really bad, almost 30 - 40%. What would you suggest? I live in the suburbs and can't really get a bigger coop right now, but they don't use it during the day except to lay eggs. Any help would be appreciated.❤

[@pernillemikkelsen3705]

Where did you get the cool jumpsuit 🤩?

[@SaundraGrenard]

How did you integrate her into the flock

[@DuckTunes79]

I have 9 hens and 1 rooster and yet he still tore up their feathers so bad that we had to separate him. I did see one of the hens pick a feather from another and eat it. I thought it was odd. That was several months ago. And the hens are still naked. We have a 22x8 run plus 8x6 coop. We treated them for pluming mites because we thought maybe that’s what it was caused from. We had one hen in particular that was broody for several months and she has all her feathers. One hen in particular is so naked, her bum is showing.

[@sandypipher5846]

My Hyline Browns all do this feather picking. 😢 They do eat the little feathers, they will pull out tail feathers and wing. They have everything on you check list. I even removed the biggest problem chicken for 3 weeks, didn't change her habbit. I re homed her, to a mixed flock with a rooster, then she stopped! But everyone else continues. I have heard that this breed is prone to this behavior???

[@marklese984]

I have a hen that thought she wanted to be broody and she plucked her belly feathers off.....then she gave up after like a week lol

[@kimm59]

I let my chickens out because they're so well behaved in my yard I have a little compost pile they go straight to it and dig and eat stuff out of it is that okay?

[@debbierafeedie4306]

My chickens all roost together at night and leave 50 percent of the roost bars empty.

[@lezliesecundaGLP-RD]

What type of chicken has the afro type feathers on their heads?

[@shoshanahsusanbrenner2224]

Over half my flock looks really bad...I also have a rough rooster who breaks the feathers off the wings.......there is a very large section of feathers missing in front of the tail feathers on most of the chickens.

[@sandraschuehlein-post292]

I need so much help. This is my first time having chicken . I have 2 silkies, and they are very broodie, and I closed the netting boxes, and they won't stop being broody. It has been 2 months since. They even lay outside the coop and won't move. I know it has been really hot, but I have fresh water electrolytes in the water misters and pools of water. I am lost. Should I just leave them?

[@ctab3235]

What do I do about a rooster who has a favorite hen and is over mating her? He’s not even too rough with her. She is the most submissive.

[@joyg8904]

3 chick's were feather picked, and drew blood. They won't leave the littlest alone. But i have no room to reintegrate. In a dig crate with the flock. What to do with the cannibals???

[@lsautomotive760]

My chicks are looking ghetto i dont know why there feather are ungly no color im wondering if it this big barrel feed we are buying , anyone?

[@Wuuupp5500]

They not molting

[@ShortbusMooner]

Ugh! Hope that I don't ever experience that! 😖

[@sophiainain9449]

None of these “solutions” are helpful or applicable to my situation. I don’t know why some of my birds feather pick. I have bearded bantams and they just peck and eat the feathers cheeks and neck feathers. I already do all this. I’ve done everything right and was hoping this video could help. Alas. Some chickens just seem do adopt this habit and once started they never stop…

[@DuckTunes79]

I’m in the same boat! My poor chickens have been naked for months.

[@AbdulRahman-f2d5j]

Firs comment

[@lilyavery8230]

Look...there's a feather I'd like to pick with you...the real issue? You never said where you got that fantastic outfit! That, and I walk away from this being scolded...as soon as you said "flock block" I opened a new window and you're like "don't do that yet" and came right back...he he...my Lucy all of a sudden has a patch of feathers missing on her neck, and let me tell you - she has the best 80's hairdo of feathers on her, she be like "don't touch my hair" I had a chicken who started bullying intensely and sadly I re-homed her...now my flock is quiet again...literally the girls did NOT want to go to bed, so I made the decision for the betterment of my flock, I need peace. Don't judge me - please! Thanks for sharing! You're the best. :)