ForFlocksSake
Songster
Hello BYC Friends!
So we had a feather picker In the flock. She was really targeting my RIR (poor thing was completely bald and at the base of her tail and the skin was so irritated for a while) but also started going for my Easter Egger at the side of her tail base and my BR right below her vent. They all had very red bald spots without any feather growth. I witnessed it happen enough times and eventually removed the bully for the health and safety of my flock. She was chasing and cornering these chickens to peck at them and I had enough. Also, just in case it comes up, they're on 20% protein feed, plenty of space in the coop and run and I offer lots of activity and enrichment for them. She just had a bad habit.
Anyway, within a few days of her removal I noticed new feather growth on all the injured birds. This made me question for minute if they were actually being plucked or if they were molting. However, my birds aren't even a year old yet (they're 9 months) and I read they won't molt before 18 months. Also my RIR was BALD at the base of her tail for quite some time, and google says molting wil have regrowth at the same time. Now I am totally confused because I was under the assumption they wouldn't regrow feathers until their first molt. Do I have it wrong? will they regrow feathers after they were plucked?
So we had a feather picker In the flock. She was really targeting my RIR (poor thing was completely bald and at the base of her tail and the skin was so irritated for a while) but also started going for my Easter Egger at the side of her tail base and my BR right below her vent. They all had very red bald spots without any feather growth. I witnessed it happen enough times and eventually removed the bully for the health and safety of my flock. She was chasing and cornering these chickens to peck at them and I had enough. Also, just in case it comes up, they're on 20% protein feed, plenty of space in the coop and run and I offer lots of activity and enrichment for them. She just had a bad habit.
Anyway, within a few days of her removal I noticed new feather growth on all the injured birds. This made me question for minute if they were actually being plucked or if they were molting. However, my birds aren't even a year old yet (they're 9 months) and I read they won't molt before 18 months. Also my RIR was BALD at the base of her tail for quite some time, and google says molting wil have regrowth at the same time. Now I am totally confused because I was under the assumption they wouldn't regrow feathers until their first molt. Do I have it wrong? will they regrow feathers after they were plucked?