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

[JM]

Sorry about a long winded question - I thought I'd put everything down in one go!

 

It's been horrible and drizzly today - so I left the girls in the run until about lunchtime. However, by 3pm they looked like drowned rats (obviously a nice dry run isn't half as much fun as standing outside getting wet!!). Anyway - I decided to dry them off and took them one by one into the shed, where I dried them with kitchen roll. In doing that I noticed that when I moved Daphne's feathers on her chest it was quite bald. I had a look at Winnie and her chest was similar - so I assume that it is normal. Is that right?

 

I also noticed that Daphne (Pepperpot) has a bald patch on her neck (I've not seen evidence of pecking by the others). Could it be the start of a moult (we've only had them since the beginning of June), or could she be rubbing them off when she puts her head outside the Omlet netting? Any ideas? There are new feather stubs showing through.

 

Daphne also always seems to have a mucky bum. I haven't washed her recently as it's been so cold, so when I looked at her earlier, her feathers below her vent and underneath are rather yucky. (I got as much off as I could dry (I didn't come prepared with water) - but I need to have another go). She does have very frilly knickers - could that be a contributing factor? (her poos are OK and not watery, there's no sign of lice or beasties, she's perfectly up and at 'em and healthy. They also get garlic powder and bokashi bran with their pellets)

 

Thanks in advance!

 

(The other 2 (gingernuts) are no trouble at all!!)

 

Jill

[Daphne]

re chest I'd say partial moult and quite normal. Its highly unlikely to be the netting and you've got feather regrowth which is the main thing. Re mucky bum have they been wormed recently? Although I have to say our orps often have poo caught in their extensive fluff!

[JM]

Thanks Daphne - I can see why you looked at this post!

 

I wormed them a the beginning of September so I was going to do it again over the Christams hols.