Hello! I am having a bad year, I have 2 hens feather plucking their young which age between 9 to 18 days old between the 2 nest. they are both plucking the babies backs, these hens have never done it before, one hen is plucking worse than the other and I am trying to work out what the problem is, haven't found it yet.

 

BUT my biggest major problem is that I have no where to put the babies, because my foster parents are already raising young from other nest. WHATA DISASTER, If any one can help with a solution other than fostering please let me know.

I am trying to work out if it is ....

 

diet

vitamins

or WHAT

If anyone has an idea I would be happy to take some advise

 

Bye for now Julie

This is advise that I found from Daz one of our breeders here on the BBC forum

 

Get some clear perspex and replace the nest box lid with it. THe hen should still enter to feed the chicks but will not hang around to pluck them.

 

You can also do a search on the forums for more information.

When you say that your foster pair already have babies so you cant foster these ones- you wouldnt be able to if they DIDNT have babies. You can mix both clutches together for the foster hen to look after.

Good Luck

Mix up some baby oil and detoll 1 table spoon of oil to 1 teaspoon of detoll. once a day wipe the backs of the chicks. This will not only deter the hens from plucking but sooth the chicks where they have been picked and stop infection.

When you say that your foster pair already have babies so you cant foster these ones- you wouldnt be able to if they DIDNT have babies. You can mix both clutches together for the foster hen to look after.

Good Luck

 

 

Yes the foster mothers have babies from other nest, I have 2 young hens ( 13 and 14 months old) that won't feed their young so they are under the foster parents, there is 6 in one nest and 5 in the other, and the two hens plucking have 4 and 5. so you see my dilema

 

This is advise that I found from Daz one of our breeders here on the BBC forum

 

Get some clear perspex and replace the nest box lid with it. THe hen should still enter to feed the chicks but will not hang around to pluck them.

 

You can also do a search on the forums for more information.

 

 

Thanks I have done that now but I could only do to one nesy as the other one has a slide up door at the front, I did slide the perspex in but the hen wouldn't go in the nest I think it looks too open for for. I will let you know if it works.

 

Mix up some baby oil and detoll 1 table spoon of oil to 1 teaspoon of detoll. once a day wipe the backs of the chicks. This will not only deter the hens from plucking but sooth the chicks where they have been picked and stop infection.

 

 

Thanks Daz I will try that

I will add this info above to this article Daz but wanted to add this also :sad: for help.

 

PERSPEX DOORS ON NESTING BOXES: this has saved many a chick from `down plucking' and `feather plucking'. It is imperative that when the perspex door is fitted that you remain in the breeding room until the hen and/or cock have been encouraged back into the nesting box. The sudden increase in light tends to frighten the cock and hen away from the box so it is imperative you check they have fed their chicks to avoid the death of one or more chicks from starvation.

 

Once the cock and hen have adapted to the light the hen will generally round up the young and keep them at the back of the box. In many cases she has been known to totally clean the bran/nesting material out of the nesting box, beak full by beak full -maybe when she has completed this task she is too tired to pluck the chicks! Just remember to replace the bran daily so she has something to keep her occupied.

 

If possible leave a small gap between the perspex and top of the nesting box, or drill holes in the perspex or side of the nesting box, so air can circulate in the box - the box can become quite humid if we experience a hot day. I have had a wonderful success rate using this method.

 

Make a note in your records, against the hen or cock, so you can use this method again if it has been previously successful.