Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[PearCottageHens]

Hi,

I am new to henkeeping and need some advice please.

I have 3 hens - Margaret, Rita and Rosie.

They seem to have lost alot of feathers and have reduced their laying - they all used to lay every day.

Margaret has a completely bald breast - lots of feathers lost and is looking a bit whispy elsewhere, Rita has lost a few feathers on her breast and all round the top of her neck which looks quite red, Rosie is fine but also laying less.

I wondered if they are just moulting but Margaret has been like this for several weeks and no new feathers are growing.

I have never seen them pecking each other

I have looked for lice or mites and cannot see any sign of either.

Could it be that they need worming?

Anything else it could be as I am mystified and worried in case it is something serious.

 

All advice very gratefully received.

[Olly]

if you haven't wormed them in the last few months, then I'd do that - it can be a cause of them not laying. I'm not sure that the non-laying and the feather loss are connected, though.

 

Are you saying that you have two bald hens, and one fully-feathered one? My guess is that the one with a full outfit is pecking the other two - if one of them had mice or lites then they'd most likely all have them. The fact that you never SEE her pecking the others doesn't surprise me - I had a feather-puller once, but never caught her in the act. It's the most likely explanation, I think.

 

I'd try some anti-peck spray, and possibly a few distractions in the run like cabbages to peck at or something similar, to stop them being bored. It's a hard habit to break though!