I have 6 hens, 3 buffs and 3 aracanas all bout 9 mths. old. They were getting along great until about a month ago when one large buff had her butt picked raw and bloody. She's since been isolated and is healing slowly. I just noticed 2 more have also started to have their feathers picked out in the same area. The culprit is the little buff who used to be the runt and is coming back with a vengeance! She has one companion who joins her in the picking but it is mostly her. the other run away and all but one don't fight back. I've put up more insulation, heat lamps, pine tar (which doesn't seem to phase them in the least), increased the protien in their diet, vitamins in their water, food scraps, toys, let them out in the yard each day and she even chases them around the yard. I hate to get rid of her, she was always so sweet and my favorite, likes to be held and is always at my feet. Would appreciate any advice. Thanks.

Put pine tar on these areas immediately. I can assure you your little one will not like the taste and will quit this behavior. Immediately apply it to any place that they begin picking. They will learn that picking tastes bad and should change their ways. Chickens can't resist picking anything that is red or looks like blood. You can find pine tar at tack shops, farm stores, and sometimes at better hardware stores. It is used for packing hooves and coating tree wounds. Hope this helps.

I've been applying Pine Tar, and she seems to actually like it. Or maybe it just doesn't bother her, she still picks around the area. She will also grab at a wing and other spots. I have removed her from the others for now and hope that will work. Not sure why she is so aggressive and isolating her seems to make her more aggitated. I've tried straight Pine Tar and also a "Rooster Booster" brand of coal tar, tea tree oil, etc. that holds better than the Pine Tar, the later seems to melt off from their body heat. Will keep you posted on how it goes. Thanks!

When I have someone who is showing blood or other things to attract picking, I really put the pine tar on heavily. If this area is as big as four square inches, I'd put on a tablespoon or more. Put on enough that any one who wants to pick can't help but get a beakful. After they stop picking, light applications serve as a renewal.