4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Phosphorus]

Haven't posted in a while but hopefully you can all shed some light.

 

My speckledy Gemma seems to be losing a fair few feathers, more than anything in the droppings trays last night. I had a look at her just now (never keen on being held) and she doesn't seem to have lice as far as I could find, however she has a few bald patches on her bottom. No scabs or anything so not sure if she has been the victim of bullying or not

 

She is pretty low in the pecking order, probably in bottom 2. We were away at the beginning of August and when we got back (about 3 weeks ago) she had been staying in the nesting box a lot. Neighbour was looking after them and had let their second water holder run dry - I do wonder if she was being kept from the water and got dehydrated. Her comb looked shrivelled and not as red (not blue though) and she had stopped laying.

After a week she started to lay again and she looks pretty perky, has laid nearly everyday for the last few weeks and still is. Tail is up etc all good - bright red comb and alert.

 

I got them at about 19 weeks April 19th so she will be around 9 months or more now. Could this be a moult? I am just surprised I am not noticing bald patches on her neck or elsewhere other than bottom feathers. Is it an affect of my neighbour's lapses and just taking its toll now? I haven't noticed the others bullying her particularly during the day but obviously it could be they are attacking her at night - no blood spilt though and there do always seem to be a few of her feathers in the nesting box when I collect eggs.

 

Any suggestions. I haven't treated them with anything other than red mite and that not for a month so might get some louse powder. Thanks to all.

[Egluntyne]

Could be stress related, due to a spell without water.

 

Maybe she was due for a moult anyway.

 

Why not give her same poultry spice or some poultry tonic?

[Phosphorus]

They do have a bit of poultry spice in with their pellets already although it can be a bit adhoc as it falls to the bottom of the grub. Wondered about putting a bit of codliver oil in as well as I bought some incase of a moult at 10 months.

 

Thanks - a font of info as usual Egluntine

[Egluntyne]

I swear by cod liver oil for the hens. I add it to their pellets.

 

If she loses a lot of feathers, perhaps a little extra protein such as tuna (rinsed) would help.

 

My girls love it.

[Phosphorus]

Didn't think of tuna - now that would be good - sure I have a few small tins as none of my little people will eat it Got it to try and hide in homemade pizza for variety!

 

Shame she isn't one of my two who head through the patio doors the minute they get the chance to swipe the cat's food - now that might of added some extra protein