Chicken bald back

[Didsburylass]

Any information gratefully received. Had my 3 ex batts for approx 10 weeks very much a newbie to this. About 3 weeks ago they started their first moult then 4 days ago the garden after 1/2 hr looked like a massacre had taken place, feathers everywhere.

 

Got so bad I even used the Hoover to collect them, new feathers are growing but still more are coming out, how long doe's this go on for? If it carries on at this rate they will be naked by Sunday!

[Hippie Chick]

They can end up looking very much looking like they're well on their way to becoming oven ready chickens, unfortunately with severe moults. And it looks very alarming! I believe that hybrids are supposed to moult less severely than pure breeds but my Rhode Rock has been moulting for a couple of months now and is only just starting to re-feather her neck which looks awful. My Bluebell hybrid isn't far behind her either.

 

Maybe it's a combination of the stress of moving them earlier before they realised how lucky they are now , plus being exposed to a natural light cycle and weather that's prompted them to have a natural (albeit heavy) moult. Chickens normally like to eat the downy little feathers they lose as they're full of protein to help grow more feathers but maybe less so with yours if their normal behaviour has been suppressed before they came to you. So you end up seeing more feathers than normal. I do remember opening the chicken coop one morning to find a moulting session had definitely taken place overnight and being impressed at the number of large feathers scattered about!

 

When I was searching the internet trying to reassure myself that my little Rhode Rock was moulting normally I found more experienced chicken keepers saying that a full moult may take around 90 days. I have been trying to support feather renewal by feeding treats of sunflower seeds, a light scattering of mealworms, Poultry Spice mixed into their feed, their own eggs hard boiled and chopped up, they routinely have cider vinegar + garlic in their water and giving them plenty of sympathy!

[Didsburylass]

Hi Hippy Chick

Thanks so much for that info, you have set my mind at rest, being a new "Mum" still a bit panicky. I give them ACV daily and also twice a week replace it with Agrivit Enhance Feather Shell and Bone also managed to source live mealworms and like you they also get sunflower seeds I feel I am at least on the right track, never thought of giving them eggs or garlic.

 

They have been on Tylan for a week so no eggs for us till next Friday, if I give them their eggs I assume it will put it back into their bodies, so will buy some proper free range, do chop or crush the garlic or doesn't it matter?

[Cat tails]

I just gove them some wet cat food. Asked my vet and he thought it was perfect for refeathering chickens and chickens that are on the slightly skinny side.

[dancing cloud]

Always lovely to hear about ex-batts enjoying their freedom

 

My ex-batts had a tendency to drop the lot and then go around looking like naked grumpy spiky things until their lovely new feathers came through. Don't be surprised if their new feathers come through in different shades than previously either - they seem to change colour slightly with every moult.

 

Leftover cat food (if you have cats) or tuna in spring water, not brine, will work wonders. If you cannot get hold of mealworms and have access to a fishing tackle shop, maggots are very cheap and chooks love them

[Didsburylass]

Many thanks to Cat Tails and Dancing Cloud.

 

Yet more info I was not aware of, I have plenty of wet cat food and Tuna in spring water, our cat Petra may not be impressed them eating her food but hey ho their need is greater.

 

Dancing Cloud thanks for the tip on maggots, does it matter if they are coloured or do the have to be undyed? Will have to look up tackle shops. The girls adore the giant mealworms, they would kill for them.

 

I have to say this is a brilliant forum for help and advice

[Hippie Chick]

Hi Didsburylass!

 

As regards the garlic, I buy the cider vinegar that has it ready mixed in. I have heard that giving chickens garlic in other ways can affect the taste of the eggs, but I've no idea if this is rumour or fact. It definitely doesn't affect the taste when it's ready mixed - I'm sure of that bit!

 

Half way through typing this, I wandered off to Google it and found this page about giving garlic to chickens and it claims that the garlic improves the taste! It also suggests how to feed it to them

 

https://poultrykeeper.com/health-suppliments/garlic-for-chickens/

[Hippie Chick]

Oooh, and I've just realised after re-reading your post that I'm sure that some folks on here have given their chickens their own cooked eggs to eat during the antibiotic withdrawal period rather than throw them away.

 

I'd either do this or wait until I have a glut of eggs later rather than buy some specially for the chickens, especially when they are being supplemented so well anyway with live wigglies!

[dancing cloud]

We have a good tackle shop in Hyde and I generally get undyed maggots, but have also fed them the coloured ones when undyed were not available. They always seem to go for the pink ones first - maybe they're strawberry favour !

 

For my current two hens, I get 1/2 pint and keep them in the fridge. When I had 12 girls, I got through a pint really quickly!

[Didsburylass]

Hi Hippie Chick

 

Thanks for the info, very useful will give the garlic a go.

 

Feeling very naughty wound OH up this morning about garlic for chickens and how lovely fresh garlic eggs and bacon would be on Sunday, poor fellow turned green!

 

As it's nearing the end of antibiotic withdrawal will give the girls the eggs and bake the shell's.

 

Currently as Thyme appears to be sick again had impacted crop, gut and resp infection now possible Sour Crop tried bending head towards floor for her to vomit..nothing...so yet another trip to vets!

[Didsburylass]

Hi Dancing Cloud

 

Hyde is not that far away, so can pop up there easily.

 

Thanks for the information, just off to the vets with Thyme again this time looks like Sour Crop at this rate she will have had nearly every common ailment known to chickens!

[Mars]

When my hens moult, I give them starter crumbs, they are high in protein

[The Dogmother]

Biotin (available form equine feed stores) is best for supporting new feather growth... it is the key nutrient in new feathers, and eggs.

 

Whilst many breeders of show birds will feed their flock cat food and the like to enhance their condition, do be aware that it's against DEFRA regulations to feed them any animal by-products. They are omnivores in the wild, so this seems especially daft, but this rule came about in the aftermath of the foot & mouth outbreak 20 years ago.