Eglu Cube Mk2 with autodoor for sale near Inverness

[Chickendoodle]

I have 4 chickens, just over a year old. 3 of them are losing feathers on their chests. Is this a moult? There has never been any aggression between the chickens - they free range most if the time so any pecking would be at night when they are shut away. Definitely dont have any mites or anything. Apart from that they all seem fine (the only one we have trouble with is Emylou who is not losing any feathers but regularly lays soft eggs!)

Officially losing my mind now as I baked them a batch of fairy cakes yesterday with 2 tablespoons of limestone flour added - thought that this way we could be sure that emylou was getting a decent dose!!

[Budgies]

It doesn't really sound like a moult. Mini moults usually start at their necks and work down the body, so if they are losing feathers on their chests it's more likely to be feather pecking.

 

When you say they don't have red mite, is that because they're treated against it?

 

They're incredibly hard to detect - they don't live on the chicken but hide up to 6 metres away and can survive for 6 months with no host to feed on. They come out at night and feed on the chicken. Anyway, if you've not dusted or sprayed for this, I would be inclined to do so.

 

There was an article in Practical Poultry that suggested that lack of sufficient airflow at night around their breasts could cause the feathers there to fall out, so just check there's nothing restricting the circulation of air at night in their house.

 

Good luck!

[Egluntyne]

Overly vigorous dust bathing and sleeping on the roosting bars can all have the effect of rubbing the feathers away

 

I'd give them a good dusting with Barrier Louse Powder as a precaution though.

[Chickendoodle]

Thanks for the advice - I must admit I have never treated them for red mite - the Eglu is disinfected weekly and I assumed that would be sufficient to keep any nasties away. I will take action!!