urban farmer Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 Got 2 chickens, feather loss on both but significant on one specifically. Most of feather loss is on the breast, the skin underneath is very red. Also loss on neck and now a bald patch on the top of head. She is well in her self. Taken to vet who says all is ok but wondered what other people thought? Both chickens wormed and mited. For info the other chicken is o ly laying soft eggs at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickinboy Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 How old are they? Could be a moult, which is normal at a certain age. If not, they could be pecking at eachother. Sometimes this can be fairly obvious, sometimes you get a secret pecker. I suppose they could be doing it to eachother. Did you get them at the same time? Are the feathers left behind anywhere, or have they gone (eaten!)? If they are eating them, sometimes it's because they need a bit more protein. A few things you could try - maybe have two feeding/drinking stations in case it's sharing that's causing the arguements - anti-peck spray makes their feathers taste nasty, and hopefully puts them off for good - increase their protein intake with tuna, mealworms, occasional cat food, or alfalfa extract. Extra protein can help with the need to eat their own feathers, as well as helping them to grow new ones quickly. There are other things like bumper bits that you could try. They enable the chooks to eat/drink normally, but stop them being able to grip a feather and pull. Take it from me, if they are pulling feathers, it's best you try and stop it quickly. It's extremely habbit forming, and a bit of a nightmare to stop once they're into it! If they're quite young, softies are just part of their bodies getting used to egg laying - with young girls you get all manner of strange shaped, irregular, or soft eggs. If it persists, you could add some calcium to their diet - limestone flour from horsey shops or ebay usually does the trick, and make sure they always have access to grit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 I have this problem with a couple of my younger girls, they are into their second laying season and haven't had a moult yet. I remember the same happening with one of my original girls, she was very threadbare during her second summer, but by the time she moulted and regrew her feathers over that winter she was really handsome. I think they have a mini moult and because they are laying they don't have sufficient reserves to regrow new feathers. It is worth re-checking the mite situation though. I have just one bird who seems to get them, ( my Bluebelle) but I dust the others regularly too, just in case Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippy chick Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 I have had a bit of a problem with a couple of mine. They were bald on their bellies and the skin was really red and inflamed. i took one of them to the vet because i thought it was lice or mites. He had a look under the mic and said that they didn't have either. He did say that it was dermatitis. Apparently the daffodils and buttercups that are in their part of the garden can cause it. I have seen a list of toxic plants on the forum and have dug up loads of them that were in my garden. This was 2 weeks ago and the chucks skin is looking much better, still bald but no redness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 It can also be caused by using too much Aubiose,or other bedding,in the poo tray,which makes them too hot at night during this warm weather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
