Monty14 Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 Hi Tilly, my Lavender Araucana, has been dropping tail/vent area/head feathers for the last few months and regrowing new ones. She is nearly a year old and has not laid an egg yet. I realise that there may not be enough daylight at the moment to kick start laying, but this constant feather drop and renewal seems strange. She eats well, is a good weight and has no infestation of anything icky (was checked last week). She pecks and scratches and dust bathes as normal (free range). Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 29, 2012 Share Posted January 29, 2012 What are you feeding her on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monty14 Posted January 29, 2012 Author Share Posted January 29, 2012 They have layers pellets and corn in the afternoon. They get treats of a handful of mealworms, some melon or banana or left over bread. My three other hens all eat the same and lay regularly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 Interesting that you have mentioned that , I have a 6mth old Araucana that has dropped vent feathers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 All my araucanas are fine and laying, although they can be the last to start in the spring and the first to stop in the winter - that's just a feature of the breed. Can I suggest that you keep all treats to a minimum - sounds as if they are getting too many - their diet should be 98% layers feed to keep them in top condition, with just a few greens in the afternoon in the winter. In the winter mine get a squirt of cod liver oil over their pellets, just to help with condition. So long as you observe this and worm them regularly (quarterly) with Flubenvet then they will be in optimum condition. If you are concerned, then try adding a good poultry tonic such as Life-Guard to their water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monty14 Posted February 2, 2012 Author Share Posted February 2, 2012 Thanks Dogmother, they don't get all the treats on the same day but I can cut back on them. I have faith she will lay, but it's the feather shedding and regrowing which is most curious. They are wormed regular and have ACV in their water on a regular basis (e.g. during moult, winter, etc). Interestingly, though mine won't eat greens at all - I've tried spinach, cabbage, broccoli, spring greens, everything but none of them touch it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 What are you worming them with? If you cut out the other treats - which have little nutritional value and just offer greens, they will soon eat them! The constant re-feathering is a mystery at her age, and will deplete her of nutrients, so make sure that they/she has enough Biotin - you can scramble some eggs or buy NAF Biotin from a horse feed supplier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monty14 Posted February 4, 2012 Author Share Posted February 4, 2012 Thanks, will look into the Biotin. I worm them with Vermex, which was recommended by our poultry supplier as was feeding them with greens. I started out with spinach and cabbage leaves, and then tried various other green veg. The only one they ate was courgette! I discovered they like melon and banana by accident! Examined Tilly (Araucana) today and she has about 2 dozen new feather shafts under her vent but seems fine and healthy otherwise. She's also got yellow pigment on her feet and around her vent, which apparently is a good sign that she's developing the 'yolk colour'? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 Can I suggest that you worm them with a licensed wormer such as Flubenvet? You may need to ask your vet about worming them twice (3 weeks apart) as they might have a heavy worm load. Stick to a sensible diet and a regular worming and lice prevention/treatment programme and they ought to flourish. The treats really are just to make you feel better - the chickens don't need them at all, and in fact will do better without. I think you might well see a difference once they are properly wormed. There's a thread here somewhere about where to buy the Flubenvet pellets; that's the easiest way to worm them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monty14 Posted February 5, 2012 Author Share Posted February 5, 2012 Is Vermex not very good then? I have seen a lot of people posting about Flubenvet. I guess I feel that if the dogs get a treat the chickens should too I've hung some greens up today so will leave them with that. I do thoroughly disinfect the coop and check them for mites/lice (two did get lice last summer so I treated all four with Barrier Louse powder). Will speak to the vet tomorrow about worming as I suspect my Milly is suffering with Mycoplasma again....poor girl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monty14 Posted February 5, 2012 Author Share Posted February 5, 2012 I forgot to add that I dust the coop regularly with diatom, which seems to keep the nasties away! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 If you want to get rid of/ keep away the lice and mites, then the Total Mite Kill range from Nettex is the most effective - there are various threads on here about that. Flubenvet is the only licensed wormer for poultry, so it will be effective. If your chickens haven't been wormed with it then you may need to worm them twice, 3 weeks apart, but check this with your vet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monty14 Posted February 6, 2012 Author Share Posted February 6, 2012 Thanks for all the advice. Flubenvet is being delivered tomorrow and Milly has been to vet and administered Tylan for her Myco which we must continue all week (the Tylan we had previously got from vet). He said that Flubenvet was best as my chooks all free range in the garden, hence their access to worms and the like. Hope they all feel better after this Milly (ISA Brown) Mabel (Speckledy) Daisy (Black Orpington) Tilly (Lavender Araucana) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
