frizzles pecking feathers?

[LittleRedHen]

this is the second time I have tried raising frizzle banty cochins. This time like last time by 5-6 weeks old I have multiple half naked chicks because someone is running around and pulling out pin feathers. Then of course its Michigan and its cold so after a few days they die. I am getting mad. I have NEVER had this problem with any other breed. And it is always the black frizzles, never the other colors. They keep them smooth as a babies bottom and plucks the pin feathers as soon as the chick starts to regrow them. They have a red heat lamp and I keep two bowls of feed in there and a gallon waterer. Occasionally the feed bowl is empty but never for long. I am at a loss. I have half of my chicks 100% feathered and 50% with ONLY their wing feathers but otherwise naked. Again, This is ONLY ever happened in frizzle banties and it has happened BOTH times just as bad. Is there something I can do? Would a white light stop this? We have 8 inches or so of snow and more in the forecast so there is no chance in the world of giving them something else to do. There is no grass or sunshine. I am never going to raise frizzle banty chicks again but I have already lost 10 out of my 27... when i wouldn't have lost them if they had kept on their feathers. I have 6-8 seriously naked ones running around and they have to stay directly under the the heat lamp 24/7. Help!

[pancho]

Are you breeding a frizzle to another frizzle?

[bonnie in indiana]

Frizzles are notorious for being cannibalistic they just love to eat each other. Give they PLENTY OF ROOM, Red light, anti-pic lotion or slather them with Vicks [or vicks-look-a-like at DollarTree Store].

Feed them ground up dry cat food. The higher protein sometimes works.
Some of the intense frizzles are called curlies-they are ugly and unthrifty and usually die. They are very ugly.

You can also try dim lights.
What works one year might not work the next year.
I love my frizzles, they are a challenge.

[LittleRedHen]

Originally Posted by pancho

Are you breeding a frizzle to another frizzle?

Haven't got that far... these were purchased as baby chicks in January. I haven't bred frizzles yet but when i do it has to be to a straight banty cochin

[LittleRedHen]

Originally Posted by bonnie in indiana

Frizzles are notorious for being cannibalistic they just love to eat each other. Give they PLENTY OF ROOM, Red light, anti-pic lotion or slather them with Vicks [or vicks-look-a-like at DollarTree Store].

Feed them ground up dry cat food. The higher protein sometimes works.
Some of the intense frizzles are called curlies-they are ugly and unthrifty and usually die. They are very ugly.

You can also try dim lights.
What works one year might not work the next year.
I love my frizzles, they are a challenge.

I divided mine in half... the nakeds and the not nakeds... to try and give the nakeds a chance. Lost another one. Now my single white one has full legs and wings but no back feathers. She had them not that long ago so they are pulling out full feathers now. Now i only have 6 chicks in a 4x4 brooder and two feed dishes and gallon waterer. The other brooder has the other 10 chicks (3 frizzles and 7 pullets) with a couple of ducklings. Hopefully all will be well now til its time to get outside in the coop

[KSALguy]

Up their protein and give them something to distract them like crickets or meal worms. A bag of crickets is cheep at petsmart.

[Delinda]

I wonder if the person or hatchery you got them from bred frizzle to frizzle? Doing this results in balding chicks, you need to breed a frizzle to a non frizzle,