Is this the start of feather pecking?

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Bickerton

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Noticed that one of my girls had lost one if her tail feathers (they are stupidly big) and the area round the base of her tail is a little scruffy and almost dusty.

There seems to be no obvious attacks from anyone but wanna nip it in the bud before anything bad happens

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Looks like a few feathers have been pulled out so could be the start of feather pecking.
 
Oh joy...

Time to start that game then. Will see if I can occupy them a little more before I start withbeak bits or the tar crap. Need to find the culprit first, is it generally the top bird?
 
Hi Bickerton,
Don't be too hasty and dismiss beak bits, I really am sorting out my girls, it seems, by putting them on.
If you take time and observe your girls for a while you will usually see the muncher in action, they cannot seem to help themselves.
My Bluebell has just started to have a go at her mates in the pen.
The bits do not seem to bother them apart from initially, when they head shake and try to clean their beaks on anything convenient.
They drink, eat, gobble treats and even tug up the grass.
When Sky the Bluebell has had hers fitted I will write again about progress.
 
How old are they now? Looks more like normal wear and tear to me. I would have thought that feather peckers would go for the tastier fluffy stuff rather than big tough hard-to-pull-out ones. Mine do drop the odd feather now and then.
You say the tail part on one of them is 'scruffy and almost dusty' could this be lice or something else infesting her? If so they might be pecking at that for a snack. Have a good look round the vent. (Oh, the indignity of being a chicken!)
 
Hi again,
would agree with Marigold that the feather munchers usually go for the soft leg/underside/bum feathers.
On mine they were cleanly plucked like oven readies underneath and then the huge backside of my Croad Langshan became a target.
Having said that, the Bluebell is going for tail feathers and breaking them, so I think she is completely new to the game. I noticed white fluff feathers showing untidily on 2 of my brown girl's backs just above the tail, watched her, and realized she was the new culprit. She now awaits her bit.
Hope this helps, and that maybe you are lucky, and it is not feather pecking.
 
Cheers for all the replies guys. The skin didn'tlook sore etc but wwill keep an eye on it and bake them a few more peck blocks. I really need to get em out in the garden ASAP, just want to trellis the back fence as 6ft may not suffice if they really wanna get out and if they get to the field side they'reas ggood as lost.
 
If you have them trained with some sort of treat they'll come back. My lot are now free-ranging over three fields, the cottage garden and all round the buildings, but either if they see me or the daft call of "Chook, chook, chook" any time between 4.30 and 5.30 gets them legging it back to the enclosure - I look like the Pied Piper!! They're almost inclined to mob me if I go anywhere near the enclosure or get out of the car where they can see me at any other time. - and they're all breeds that like to free range and are regarded as flighty - Welsummers, Exchequer Leghorns and Crested Cream Legbars.
 
Yeah mine mob the door when I tap my wedding ring on their porridge bowl and I am bring it to them.
 
Margaid said:
If you have them trained with some sort of treat they'll come back. My lot are now free-ranging over three fields, the cottage garden and all round the buildings, but either if they see me or the daft call of "Chook, chook, chook" any time between 4.30 and 5.30 gets them legging it back to the enclosure - I look like the Pied Piper!! They're almost inclined to mob me if I go anywhere near the enclosure or get out of the car where they can see me at any other time. - and they're all breeds that like to free range and are regarded as flighty - Welsummers, Exchequer Leghorns and Crested Cream Legbars.
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My concern is its a playing field with people and dogs. Farmers field I wouldn't be mind them getting over. Sods law it'd by the skittish crested that made a break for it as she would be unwatchable.
 
These types of bits or the larger more complicated looking ones?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12-x-Beak-bits-for-chicken-poultry-anti-feather-pecking-/140938991168?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Poultry&hash=item20d09e5640
 
Have ordered some of the ones you posted about. Hopefullycan find tthe definite culprit before I go away next week as wifey won't feel confident fitting one alone.
 
Need external clip pliers Bickerton. Easy with them, difficult without. We are putting one on a Buff orpington in the morning. She is fine but has a taste of the cockerels comb. He is too soft to stop her (natural behaviour to preen her cockerel), don't want to smother him in Stockholm tar. She has tasted blood and the easiest route is despatch. So once again the beak bits are the last resort. Whoever invented the bumpa bit needs some kind of award!!!!
 
I think it's my speckaldy that's doing it but will sit and watch them for a bit tomorrow before I let them out. Have baked dome more peck blocks today so will see how things go before the bits arrive.
 
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