Single hen

[Charlotte R]

hi my lovely red hen - who is about a year old and has moulted - is looking sad and has lost feathers on her underside. She looks plucked and ready for the oven - it awful. Any ideas what might cause this?? Please help

[meezers]

Hiya !

not much help I'm afraid, when did she moult ? did all her feathers grow back afterwards or is she still bald from moulting ? Have you checked her for lice and parasites ? the only other thing I can think of is if she was broody ( Lottie plucked all her feathers off her underside when she was broody ) but you'd notice that and it's an odd time of year to go broody anyway, sure someone of more help will be along shortly.

[sophiex]

hello

i am not any help eather, but i

hope that you find out what is

wrong. i am sure that there is

nothing to worry about! x

[One_Box]

If she has just molted you may wish to supplement her normal diet with some extra protein. Well rinsed tuna seems to go down well with my lot in their hot mash which I give them every other day (layers mash, tuna, sweetcorn and grapes to be precise

 

How many other birds do you have living with your red hen?

 

Birds seem to do there own thing regardless of what is expected. One of OH's bantams has been broody for about 2 weeks and shows no sign of giving up

[Charlotte R]

Thank you for your help - Hookoo is with 2 other red hens and we recently added a bantam cockerel - they all get on well but I would say she is the lowest in the pecking order. She moulted in january and all the girls looked so wonderful the last month - which is why I am concerned - we did a big clean up last week - but will do a parasite check and mega clean this weekend - any ideas abou0t her bald tummy very much appreciated

 

c

[little chickadee]

One of mine has been bullying the others and we have a number of oven ready chickens wandering around. We've had to resort to bumper bits again. Could she be being picked on?

[New2this]

Hi All,

 

[i'm back yes it's been awhile but I've still been reading the threads with interest].

 

If it's any consilation, my hybrids appear to be molting too. They've lost or beginning to loose their feathers from their vent to their breast - very un-lady like

 

I was concerned initially because I read elsewhere they typically molt during the autumn but then read somewhere else that they can molt when they reach 1 year of age which is about their age. Other than loosing their feathers and looking quite scruffy, they seem fine - eating and pooing fine. In addition they never stopped laying during the winter and if anything their eggs are getting bigger by the day. Furthermore I worm them every 3 months.

 

So I'm not trying to worry about it too much.

 

CJ.

 

PS My Pekins & Seabrights are laying now too

[Charlotte R]

I think the rather naughty and tiny bantam boy we have is picking on Hookoo! So I have cut his nails a little - he seems very flirty and interested in the girls Hookoo being the smallest seems to be getting the most of his attention - which seems to be quite bullying - should I get him a bumper thingy?

 

We cleaned them/ their yard areas all madly this weekend so at least its not lice or mites. Just a rather horny tiny bantam - really!