Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Sam Palmer]

One of my chickens had a big moult before Christmas and grew back all her feathers straight away. The other three have had small moults since then on various parts of their bodies and grown back feathers in most places, apart from their rear ends, which have stayed completely bare on two of them. Yvonne has had feathers start to grow numerous times but then they all disappear. Honey just seems to stay bare. Sometimes the skin looks really red. When I've been out there with them I've not seen any sign of pecking or feather pulling by any of them. (Could they do this during the night?)

Since Christmas the egg laying has been erratic too. Someone is laying a lot of softees which I find in the poo trays and we usually only have 1-2 eggs a day now and occasionally none at all.

They are wormed and powdered for mites regularly and they have garlic and grit in their food. For the last month to 6 weeks I've also been adding poultry spice.

Any ideas?

[Plum]

Probably getting eaten in the nest box. I've noticed the girls taking an interest in bottom feathers when there's been a broken egg and soiled feathers. Well that's my theory about why bottom feathers get eaten.

 

I'd keep an eye out and wash bottoms regularly.

[staceychristie]

Ditto Plum! One of ours left a few broken eggs, and her bum was a bit mucky afterwards. They all have pecks at each other but the baldies we plastered with mustard powder made into a paste. They soon realised that new sprouting feathers didn't taste too nice!!!!

Good luck.

 

Stacey