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

[chickenlady]

Hello,

 

Maybe a dumb question, but my girls are about 18 weeks now. I today we have noticed that the Chocolate Orpington and the Lemon Pekin have got little whiteish speckles on some of their feathers. Is this normal ?? We have recently returned from holiday and my neighbour has been looking after them. They were left treats of cabbage and corn on the cobb. I wasn't sure if it was diet related or something else. We have a Cube, on the floor of the is earth covered with Aubiose and each week when it is changed I sprinkle Stalonsan F down before I put the Aubiose down. They are currently fed Wiggle Wormers..!

 

Many thanks

[Plum]

No idea, but I understand that when they moult if they are low in minerals then they can have paler feathering coming through.

[chickenlady]

Thanks for coming back....maybe they are just there grown up feathers, the orpington looks like she has had salt spinkled on her...

[Plum]

Designer feathers then

[juliec]

they aren't lice eggs are they? I remember when the kids were little finding little grains of something that turned out to be nits, not sure if its the same in chickens

[Space Chick]

When my lot had white speckles on their feathers, it turned out to be corn on the cob juice

 

I think your neighbour has been generous on the treat front

[chickenlady]

OMG Space Chick thing you may be onto something !!! I have also been giving them a few corn on the cobs to apple bob to make up for leaving then and going on holiday!!! What messy girls Thanks you x

[pipistrelle]

Well that's cleared that up for me, mine also look like they've been splashed with bleach and I've recently started hanging up a corn on the cob for them!

[Space Chick]

Glad to help

[ChickenBruce]

Likewise on my Pekin Bantams.

If you look at new feathers, you'll see that they emerge with a waxy, white coating, a sort of protective sheath. As the feather grows, this falls off in tiny pieces.

 

Regards,

Bruce