Unsecure chicken perches

[kackness]

Our bantam hen started moulting last month. As soon as she started loosing feathers, our other hen started savagely plucking her. She's now got a big bald patch on her back which is even a bit bloody. Any advice? I hesitate to take her to the vet because last time I took a hen to the local vet he told me that there's very little that can be done for an ill hen (which didn't inspire me with great confidence). I've been hoping that her feathers would just grow back naturally, but it's been three weeks now and she's just as bald and bloody as ever. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Oh, by the way, in all other respects she seems to be thriving. She's lively, alert, eating well...she's just pretty horrible to look at.

[Cinnamon]

In some ways your vet is right. A sick hen will try to appear well for as long as she can,so she is not attacked by other flock members.

However,your hen isn't sick - she is moulting & has been pecked,& there is much you can do to help her

 

Firstly I would get some purple spray (the Omlet shop do it) & spray her baldy bit. This will discourage the other hen from pecking,as it will cover the red,which they are attracted to. It is also antiseptic & healing - I swear by it in cases of pecking.

I would also give her a protein boost in her feed,either by a supplement,or by feeding her protein rich foods. Feather growing requires a lot of protein.If you do a search there is lots of advice on how to help a moulting hen on the forum.

There are various supplements in the Omlet shop.

 

Hope this helps.

[Egluntyne]

Three weeks isn't long in the case of a moult. It may be a couple of months before she shows signs of growing new feathers.

 

If you follow Cinnamon's advice, she should perk up.

[sari]

The purple spray seemed to work wonders in our pecked hen, better than the anti peck sprays. I also made sure there was lots of other things in the run, and places for Gert to skulk, hope it improves soon x

[kackness]

Thank you so much! I'll get some purple spray straightaway.