Chicken bald back

[Flowerpot]

Hi

Can anyone help me please?

I have five hens and three of them are moulting. I cannot swear to it but I think the two things happened at the same time but when I clean their poo trays in a morning there is alot of what looks like dandruff in the tray and on closer inspection it looks like it is from the feather quills.

I have looked into their feathers to see if they have lice and as yet I haven't found any but it is fair to say that my girls really don't like being picked up and although I do pick them up I try to be quick about it; which could be why I haven't seen anything. They do look very 'clean' in between their feathers.

Is this 'normal' during moulting?

Should I worry?

Anyone have any experience of anything similar?

Do they need cod liver oil?

Help please

Thanks

Flowerpot

[mullethunter]

Don't worry it's completely normal. When new feathers grow they are covered by a sheath which falls or is preened off - this is what you are seeing. My Eglu has been full of it for the last few weeks!

[mollyripkim]

Hi, yes it's from the new feathers growing, my droppings tray is full of it in the mornings. I've been putting some cod liver oil and chicken spice in their food while they are growing news feathers.

[Flowerpot]

Oh thank you

What an idiot I am! but I was really worried that I was neglecting to feed them something that I should have done

So I will just keep cleaning it out

Thanks again I'll sleep better tonight!

Flowerpot

[Flowerpot]

I have been giving them chicken spice but I will add the cod liver oil as well.

How much do you give them?

Flowerpot

[mollyripkim]

No not an idiot at all, there is always something new to learn.

Not very scientific but I fill a washing up bowl, then just splash a glug of cod liver oil in and mix it up, it makes the chicken spice stick to the pellets too.

[Flowerpot]

Thanks Mollyripkin

I shall give them a glug of oil at the weekend.

I feel so much happier when I am cleaning them out now that I know they haven't got something horrible happening to them.

I'm also pleased to know that they are growing replacement feathers especially in this cold wind- not that they seem bothered!

Flowerpot