Hen eating roosters feathers

[cobsarefab]

I have a pair of Large fowl buff Orpingtons as a showing and breeding pair. The cockerel came a few weeks ago and is six or seven months old. The hen is about 8 months old. They are not related. They seem to be getting on fine but she is eating his feathers. I've had chickens pluck them out but never eat them. Has anyone had this before and any suggestions how to stop it? I'll seperate them and sudocrem his sore bits but how do i stop her doing it again?

 

[MotherOfChickens]

can be a sign of protein or some other deficiency-or sometimes just plain stress. what are you feeding them? do they have access to grass etc? sometimes just giving them some meal worms or dried fresh water shrimp will do it.

 

[druid]

Dried shrimp or some kitten food.

Also would keep them separate if you're showing as the Roo will probably damage the hen's feathers - my roos live together and the hens live together

 

[cobsarefab]

They have access to grass and oyster shells. They are fed layers pellets and veg they eat a lot of bugs. It's weird because I've never had it with this breed at all. Will try them with mealworms. They are being kept together at the moment as I wanted to hatch some new orps.