peisiong Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 Hi all, Sorry if i have posted this in the wrong forum but this seems the most active one. Both of my hens (they arrived in mid Sep 08 so about 1.5 years old) started to produce 1 egg (sometimes none) between them abotut 1.5 weeks ago. Yesterday, I noticed that one of them (Aretha) has bald patch from chest down nearly to the vent. Also a round patch of what looks like red soreness on the chest and another one on stomach area. I have crawled through the forums but cannot find much conclusive answers other than a combination of moulting and mites. As I took pictures today, I attempted to check for mites on Aretha but couldn't see anything. I also check the Eglu racks and inside roof but couldn't see anything suspicious. To be honest, I am not quite sure what to look for other than white mites eggs at base of feather and white/red mites that is 1mm in length. The other hen (Martina) appeared to start the feather loss as well. I have not been able to get diatom powder for various reasons for a few months now and am angry with myself for that. I have asked someone to help me get some this week. Could you give me some advice? If it is only moulting, then I should just give them better nutrition right? If it is also mites, what else can I do? Thank you very much! Pei Aretha Martina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speckled hen Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 Three of my girls have had ongoing feather loss for about 11 months now, so too long for a moult. They also have red patches, after eliminating everything else I have put it down to plucking, naughty girls As for solutions, I swapped the food to smallholders ex-batt layers pellets and this definitely helped with some feathers, then about a month ago I noticed Penny looked a bit sore so sprayed her with violet spray that had added aloe vera, and what do you know.........nearly all of the feathers have grown back So I have now sprayed it on the other two and some feathers have started to come through. I can only assume the aloe vera has helped as it is a new spray with this in. Hope this helps, Im sure someone with more knowledge will be along soon to help out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 I think Speckled Hen is right. It doesn't look like a moult tbh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hilda-and-evadne Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 Yesterday, I noticed that one of them (Aretha) has bald patch from chest down nearly to the vent. Also a round patch of what looks like red soreness on the chest and another one on stomach area. ... Could you give me some advice? If it is only moulting, then I should just give them better nutrition right? If it is also mites, what else can I do? If they were my hens, I would treat them for depluming mite first - look for the other topics about this on the Omlet forum - ie with flowers of sulphur in a "carrier" cream like E45. I am very pleased with the results of treating my hens, the leghorn especially who now has a white powder puff of feathers where for months before her backside was bald and sore-looking. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 How Often did you administer your FOS for??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 A lot of hubbys hens are a bit baldy. They are a mixture of moulting & feather pluckers! They are all regularly treated for lice & mites. Boon our large cochin cockerel...his feathers are growing back round his neck. Marlene our GL wyandotte seemed to have an overnight moult last night. Tere were loads of here feathers floating round this morning. The pekins are moulting loads too. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hilda-and-evadne Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 How Often did you administer your FOS for??? Three applications over about three weeks, I think it was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peisiong Posted October 27, 2009 Author Share Posted October 27, 2009 Dear all, Thanks ever so much for all the information! May I know where (online shop or real shop in London) I can buy "violet spray that had added aloe vera" and flower of sulfur? Thanks v much! Pei Aretha Martina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barkisland Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 I've just found flowers of sulphur on ebay, sold by a horse tack supplier, so I suspect you will get it at any horsey feed place. I'm going looking for some tomorrow, as I now have 5 out of 6 hens with very red, sore looking baldy bums. At first I thought it was just henpecking, it started with one and seemed to spread, so now I am wondering about depluming mite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
