How Quickly Does Albendazole Work?

[mvw6]

Hi,

 

I've just joined on my daughter's behalf as she looks after two hens (a Red Co and a Brown Nic) which we got about two months ago. The Red Co is absolutely fine but the Brown Nic has lost most of her feathers on her chest. We've seen the Red Co picking feathers out but we are not sure if she's solely responsible for the dissappearing feathers.

 

Both are laying well and other than the bare chest both seem healthy.

 

Is it normal that one Hen picks an other's feathers out? Could this be a medical condition?

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks,

 

Michael & Nina

[Plum]

Hello welcome and your daughter

 

It can be boredom or a deficiency in diet so I would give them a tonic to see if that helps and put some antipeck spray on the feathers. You can hang cabbage or broccoli etc in the run to give them something else to peck at.

 

I use Lifeguard tonic but if you go to a poultry supplier or pet shop they will have an alternative. You add it to the water or use Poultry spice which you can mix in food

[mvw6]

Hi,

THANK YOU! you really helped us.

they really like the broccoli .

nina

[Plum]

Sounds like you better get sewing some

[mvw6]

HI,

Yeah I could try planting some!

I have one question thats bothered me and my Family for a while and thats that they sleep in their nest-boxes and i end up cleaning their nest-boxes more than their bed room were they sleep!

I whould take any suggestions into account to get them sleeping in their bedroom.

NINA

[migsy]

You could try putting a football in the next box but you would have to take it out before their laying time which might be early morning.

[mvw6]

Hi

Thanks. I might try doing that. Do you think its ok to get the football out at 6.30am?

Thanks. Evrything that you've suggested to try has worked.

nina

[Redwing]

yes that would work, a flowerpot used upside down also works

 

You can also try moving them from the nestbox to the perch after they have been roosting for over an hour or so, they will be too sleepy to move back and after a few nights should get the hang of sleeping on the perches

 

With reference to the feather loss, its the start of moulting season now and so it could be a completely normal moult or mini moult (if the hens are quite young) Sleeping in the nest box can make a hen lose its feathers to some extent as there isnt much airflow if they sleep in a nest

[mvw6]

Thank you very much!

Nina