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

[legend21]

Yesterday I noticed our head girl has lost quite a few feathers on one wing, some look like quils are broken but feathers missing, today when I let her our of the run the other side is starting to look the same. When OH come in tonight I will spray both sides with anti peck spray, anyone any ideas why she has started this, of all of the ex batts she was the most complete if you know what I mean, she hardly had any feathers missing.

 

Is she deficient in something, she cant be bored they freerange all day until bedtime so by then you think she would be exhaused, she laid an egg as usual this morning and ate her porridge

 

Advise me wise ones

 

thanks

 

Jakcie

[Henhathnofury]

Have you checked her over for any infestations such a lice? This sounds quite drastic plucking and unless she is broody (they sometimes pick out their own feathers to line the nest..but they are often the softer ones from the tummy)

 

If you are sure she is self-plucking..this does sound like parasites, which are easily treated with powders etc.

[legend21]

OH is finishing work early, I will have him hold her and I will look

 

will let you know

 

thanks

 

Jackie

[Redwing]

I'd go with parasites too

 

How did you get on?

[Plum]

She may be low on protien making all those new feathers and eating hers to top them up. Because she is free ranging so much she may not have enough basic pellets? Just a thought.

[legend21]

I checked them all and they dont seem to have any parasites, I put a little limeflour in their morning porridge as they freerange, they are all laying eggs and she gulped down the porridge this morning and did her usual growling at the smaller girls who were sharing a bowl.

 

I gave her a dusting of DE last night, if I did not know better I would say she had been attacked as some of the feathers look broken off, but she is showing no adverse reactions to this. She was a bit sleepy yesterday but again I saw her laying and eating. The worry of keeping chickens

 

Jackie

[Henhathnofury]

I wonder if she got her wing caught up in something or got stuck somewhere temporarily and hurt herself. My Light Sussex once squeezed herself down the side of the aviary on the outside - luckily I saw her and got her out carefully. But she was beginning to panic. It could be something like that.....

 

She sounds like a feisty one though!

[beach chick]

could she be moulting? mine looked really manky when they were!

[legend21]

I did think about moulting reading other peoples messages, i think I will start adding poultry spice to their food.

 

thanks

 

Jackie