Andrew's Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 Hello I have a couple of chooks - they seem generally happy, laying well but Peppa is losing/plucking her feathers on her underside. It has been a couple of months now. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 It is worth checking her for mites or treating her just in case. However I have a White Star who pulls her own feathers out, like nail biting in people She has been bald all over her back end and a bit underneath for most of the time that we have had her. She is happy and lays well a bit too well really because she has hardly had a day of for 18 months. She does look like she may now be taking abreak because we have had no eggs for a few days. We will have to see if this gives her the energy to grow back a few feathers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoice Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 Is it definitely Peppa doing the plucking? Or could it be George? You can get anti peck spray that makes the feathers taste bitter - Johnsons do some. Failing that there's Ukadex - it's totally vile stinky stuff so should stop any plucking attempts unless they want a lungfull of stench! Other than that it could be mites etc as chickencam suggests or an allergy to her bedding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew's Posted May 15, 2009 Author Share Posted May 15, 2009 They have been red mite powdered, I will give it a week and report back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brambles Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 does she sit on the eggs for a while? I've got a 'semi broody' who has plucked out all her underfeathers and tries to incubate everyone's eggs, gets bored and gets off! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budgies Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 A recent article in Practical Poultry pointed to insufficient ventilation at night causing them to pluck/lose feathers. As long as there is air around their perches and she's not sleeping in a nesting box, that should help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 Could she be allergic to her nesting material? What are you using? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mazzarina Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 She looks just like one of my girls, Carmencita, who's been a bit prone to lice. She's a champion dust-bather and also sits for a very long time laying. Unfortunately, the other two pull out and eat her feathers - she's had a bare bum for a while, and is losing feathers from round her tail as well. I've tried Johnson's Anti-Pek spray and it's alright, but seems to wear off pretty quickly; I've also tried it mixed with some vaseline to keep it on for longer and to soothe her bare skin. I'm now trying Stockholm tar (about £6 for a tub) - stinky stuff to stop the others pecking her. I know some people use beak bits. I totally failed to put one on the prime offender, and I'm not keen on them to be honest. So I've plumped for tar for the time being, and things hanging in their run to keep them occupied when they're not free-ranging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew's Posted May 15, 2009 Author Share Posted May 15, 2009 All my supplies come from here http://www.thomasirving.co.uk/ They live in an eglu, so I assume the ventilation is sufficient, and they never sit on there eggs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 Try some DE powder or some louse powder which you should be able to get from your supplier You could also try Johnssons lice and mite spray which is sold for budgies etc.. in a pet shop therefore not licenced for poultry use in the uk and you should not eat the eggs for a certain amount of days after (I can't remember how many but I didnt eat mine for three days) I am afraid it can be a habitual feather pecking problem though (it can be the hen herself or her friend so you would need to observe them to see who it is, anti peck sprays like Johnssons can be useful but Ukadex is the daddy of anti peck sprays (and repels your friend and family from you because of the stink ) Your supplier looks good so ask them for some gentian violet spray - horsey people call it 'purple spray' and spray that on as chickens are attracted by red and so her beacon bottom could be making the problem worse! Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budgies Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 All my supplies come from here http://www.thomasirving.co.uk/ They live in an eglu, so I assume the ventilation is sufficient, and they never sit on there eggs. You're right, the ventilation does sound fine. The thing that some people do which I wouldn't recommend is pack nesting material in the poop tray right up to the level of the roosting bars. This cuts down on the air circulating at night of course. That's one possible reason eliminated anyway!! Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew's Posted May 15, 2009 Author Share Posted May 15, 2009 I don't paper the poop tray, they get cleaned out regularly anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
