Claire. Sept will be our 2nd year of raising our girls and what a pleasant surprise it has been. Broody hens often get targeted because they have plucked out their own breast feathers, and the other chickens will then peck at the red flesh. Today there were a lot if them. You can look at the label and specific formulation of your brand to determine whether your chickens are getting the protein they need. Hello there, Have you seen any pecking or redness on her? https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/7-reasons-why-your-chickens-stopped-laying-eggs/ Separate the rooster for a week and see if they grow back. absolutely necessary, and if you do, make sure you do it gradually to avoid Claire. I currently have 3-4 hens that started missing feathers around their vent (their bottoms are super red since then, and then now are starting to lose feathers around their crop and legs and now their crop is red as well). She (red one) usually sleeps in the nesting box, where I had added some lavender herbs to the sand..she doesnt stay in all day however, just sleeps there, then in to lay eggs late morning, and the outside. Has not been overly hot here in Oregon, actually its been firmly cool In the mornings, su my and 80 in afternoon. dont know if she is being bullied. Claire. Could this be molting? Also, there are a lot of cats and dogs in the neighborhood so I dont want it to get hurt. None of my other chickens (8 total) peck her she is about twice the size of all the others so the lack of feathers isnt from continued pecking. Signs Of Vent Gleet: Chickens losing feathers on the bottom; Redness and swelling around the vent; Bloated stomach; Pasted feathers on rear; How Is It Resolved? Your email address will not be published. I would leave it be but we asked the neighbors if they were missing a chicken and nobody replied. Im worried! So, during the fall, when there is a drop in the number of daylight hours, you can expect your chickens to start their molt. It sounds to me like they are molting. They can spread infections and cause your chickens to lose scales on their legs. production has stopped. How do I know if its a parasite or mounting or stress? I dont think there are mites since theyve had multiple home changes is the past 4 months. Feather loss can be a normal occurrence, such as molting. Therefore, you need to take action immediately to both prevent and eliminate it. If the feather loss is around the vent area, you might be dealing with mites or another external parasite. Claire. I did this b4 with a hen and it worked. They are about 9 weeks old. Hi Sam, It started off with only two of them looking like this so I thought it was mites and I treated them for that for a week. Our first thought was that another animal had been attacking her, but if that were the case, I think she would have bite marks as well. Thanks ahead of time. Let me know how you get on, Protein deficiency is one of the most common reasons as to why chickens lose their feathers. Provide your chickens with a proper diet, and they will likely grow their feathers back in less than a month no need to worry! Here are some common locations for your birds to lose feathers: If your chickens are losing feathers in any of these areas, its not anything to be alarmed about. Either way it sounds like youre on-top of it Paying attention to where feathers are missing can sometimes indicate what is wrong. heres my question can I paint the girls with red butts with tree pruning sealer? We just had a flood hurricane ( Imelda) and my chickens are loosing feathers all the way to the skin. What type of feed do you give them? It just started today or yesterday. Ive done everything possible killed every bug that could possibly be in there tried everything and Im down to Ive got some horrible bullies. Hi Brian, Claire. My chickens have molted all summer and stopped laying eggs except for my silkie. Kristi Cook. This is because chickens need lots of protein to make eggs, but also, their feathers are 80% protein. Poultry lice are fast-moving, 6 legged, flat insects with round heads that live only on the chicken and its feathers. If your hen has a parasite you should quarantine them for at least 21 days. [url=http://alfa5066462.ru] [/url] http://alfa5066462.ru, You receive money transfer of 89.44$! It has a mixture of play sand, log ash and diatomaceous earth. Hi May, Chickens can also lose their feathers when they are being bullied. They have moved house as have i, twice in the last 6 months though.But egg laying has been fine always and they are seemingly fine. What could be the problem? You can then either isolate the culprits or use a blinder for a few days. Im not just talking a few, its a lot. You will easily notice that she is broody because she wont leave the nesting box and rarely eat. I have 3 chickens, and she is the only one losing her feathers. Feathers are 85% protein and molting changes the temporary dietary needs of chickens. Can mice cause so much stress it causes them to lose feathers? Would this be lice still? We had isolated the last sick one, and it recovered. She has no feathers on her butt and spotty on her back and sides. Hello, a chick/chicken might even be a rooster arrived at my door earlier today. I have a hen and a rooster probably Shamo breed, the rooster has lost some feathers and some feather straws are broken but the hen have lost most of the feathers on her back and the feather straws also broken and now they cant mate successfully, any suggestion? Broody hens will peck at their chest feathers. thanks, Diana, hello diana i think they do but it never specifys the gender. Some good herbal remedies include herbs like peppermint, cinnamon, and lemongrass, as well as the regular application of diatomaceous earth. In addition to molting, the only other occasion when feather loss can be flock-wide is when your chickens have a disease or are infected with parasites. Does this happen with molting or is she being bullied. Post Mar 07, 2010 #1 2010-03-07T23:54. The other 4 hens show no sign of molting and they have full beautiful feathers. If it is just one or two hens I would in fact isolate the hens that are doing the bullying. Ensure you displace the feathers with your hands and spray the shafts behind the neck, underneath the wings, and around the vent. Inspect your chickens by pushing apart the feathers to look for the cause of the loss. Any suggestions, Hi Ryan, There is 1 rooster. My girls have very few feathers on their breast now they look a bit rough everywhere else too not sure if its moulting as they are about 18 months old, but Ive disinfected the hut a few times and pressure washed it. One of them is losing feathers. Any suggestions?? As this is their second summer Id suspect they are around 18 months old now. My flock of eight hens seems to be molting, but they are only 10 months old. jploria116; Mar 26, 2023; Emergencies . Simply soak the chicken's feet in a warm bath of water for 5-10 minutes, then softy rub the skin with a gentle toothbrush to remove any excess scales. Expect the process to take 8-16 weeks. However, you may be alarmed when you notice feathers around the coop. Vent gleet is a bacterial infection that affects the vent area and can cause feather loss and inflammation. She also was staying on her roosting bar all day and I had to bring her food and water. Im not a professional but Im pretty sure she is broody, if so, make sure she has food and water every day, and keep an eye on her. They are about 14 months old. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Normally if one chicken has mites- they will all have mites. Is it possible that the rooster is doing it? Many thanks. For a hen to grow their feathers back they need plenty of protein. Really enjoy reading all your helpful tips. You should cover any potential openings with inch hardware cloth. we use this special dust that is suppose to kill mites and lice. Claire. If your chicken is infested with mites it is common for them to lose their feathers but usually only around the vent area. Please seek advice from a certified veterinarian in a case of emergency. If you have a rooster, overzealous breeding behaviors might be to blame for some feather loss. Make sure your coop is kept clean (including the nest boxes) and provide your birds with access to fresh, clean water and food at all times. So the first thing you can do is stop feeding them layers of pellets and give them food with a higher protein percentage. I have 5 hens, one of them is losing feathers around its neck area,I havent noticed any bullying etc, in fact they all get on fine, the hen is feeding and drinking well and still laying. Its summer here (January) so I dont think she would be molting. Claire. You can mix ginger powder up with their game feed, and it helps boost their circulation and spread vitamins and nutrients throughout their body. -loose stools -decrease or cessation of egg laying -depression -decreased appetite or increased appetite -loss of weight -Whitish patches/lesions in the mouth -pasting of vent feathers -swollen bloated abdomen Treatment: - Bathe the chicken to help cleanse and soothe the affected area. Sorry to hear about Miss Pepperpot. I dont know why he is losing feathers. I have no roosters, and they do not free-range. They are friendly and egg laying, but they have lost their feathers around their vents---no other places. A broody hen wants to hatch their own chicks, and she will lay on top of its eggs all day long. Do you know what kind of parasites? You will notice when they start to molt, they lose feathers around their neck first. It is most commonly seen in hens. However if she hasnt had feathers for a while it sounds to me like she is being bullied. I have diatomaceous earth that I sprinkle around their coop, and where they take dirt baths. Chickens can become cannibals if left to their own devices. Hi before taking my 3 girls to a vet I thought id ask While its usually harmless, overmating can be dangerous in that roosters will pull so many feathers from the hens that they will be completely bare on their backs and chests. I hope she is fine, shes my fav. loss of feathers. She turned up in our neighbors yard, but the night before we found her, she had taken shelter in nothing but a dip in the snow. How do I check for mites? Read our in depth guide on molting here: https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/chicken-molting/. Whilst this jostling for pecking order is normally harmless, occasionally it can turn into bullying, and hens get singled out and targeted. Is she has only recently lost them I would clean the coop out and treat them all with a dusting powder. left on for too long), Too few feeders and drinkers, or About a week ago we have notice that one of the hens lost a lot of her feathers, in the face and the neck. I just brought her home from a very reputable farm. It was also thinner than normal and bent oddly. Found your site and am so enjoying all the informative information, Thank You. Moulting is a natural annual process where your chicken replaces its entire compliment of feathers over a few weeks. Step 1. We recently got rid of the rooster and that hen is getting picked on from the other hens really bad! When diagnosed, you need to sanitize the roost . I have a black Australorp hen that is almost 3 years old, every summer she has molted to the point of becoming absolutely naked, then she takes several months to regrow her feathers. Claire. Any ideas what can we do? The entire flock is young and had just started laying. Another indication that your chickens have mites is the color of their combs and wattles, as well as the skin around their eyes. Could the baby rooster be doing this? Molting is a process that is highly variable depending on the individual chicken, so while some birds will go through it quickly, losing feathers for only a couple of weeks, others may molt for months. I always prefer to isolate the culprit instead. The other girls are ok. Isnt July a bit early for a true molt? Looks like feather picking to me to> I agree w/eggcessive> up the protein. Claire. Now) and My red hen has a bald spot on her chest..being that it is early August, could it be molting? Poke around her vent very gently and check if you can see any lice in her. However it seems even 2 days after separating them, she is still losing a lot of her and I am not sure if it is a stress reaction or molting or both? I am guessing the weight loss is a result of her previous situation, but wonder why it just started a few days ago. , but not much change. You may need to do this several times. Remove parasites on their feathers. I would love to know if roosters molt as hens do once per year. Whereas lice actually live on the chickens bodies, so they are easier to spot. JavaScript is disabled. In both cases, you can use poultry dust from your local hardware store to remove the parasites. Ive found the more aggressive breeds are genetical closer to the original jungle fowl. I have 34 chicks but only one chick is loosing feathers after suffering mosquito bites. A loss of skin can cause fly strike, which is when flies lay eggs that develop into maggots on your hens body. Hope you solve it Look up sulphur powder for a cure . Then in a few days reintroduce the bullies and see how you get on, I have never seen them pecking their feathers or picking on each other. hi hope you can help I have 4 chickens 3 years old the speckled one lost feathers 3 weeks ago I thought it had been attacked, feathers all over the coop now the other 3 have started losing them but in all different places 1 head. Is this normal? Lice and chicken mites are common causes of A good ratio to follow is ten to twelve hens per rooster. Sometimes, the feather breaks as it emerges. Find full disclosure here. Could this be stress? Otherwise, spend some time observing your flock. The eggs have improved significantly. Claire. environmental conditions such as: Follow the best guidelines for raising chickens to ensure that your bird is not freezing, overheating, thirsty, or hungry. You need to give your chickens a bit more space and some distractions. She has been super quiet and generally depressed lately, and Im wondering if its because of the lack of a flock? Please help! Their next home was a 2 car garage until we could complete the new coup, which was larger than their previous dwelling. Fortunately, most of the time - this is not something to worry about at all and if it is something to worry about, we can tell you how to deal with it. The quills are still on her body, but the feathery part is gone. A healthy vent will be pink and moist. Sometimes, that boredom can lead to them picking out their feathers, whether from frustration or to give them something to do. We have 3 chickens , 1 of them is a bantam. But no change in a long time with regrowth and now there are quite a few feathers on the floor..? just today She has spent almost all day in the brooding box. Thanks. Could it be that it is old and it is dying? She could also have parasites like lice and mites. Thoughts? We separated the smaller hens with missing feathers and let them recover. Make sure you rule out all of these other potential causes, but then work through the environment of your birds to make sure you arent missing anything. I dont see any bald patches or any parasites. How long has your Welsummer been molting for now? And learn how warm the coop gets depending on outside conditions to avoid overheating your birds. We used blue-kote (sp?) You can try feeding a higher fat and higher protein content feed, but forcing a quick molt is not recommended as you need to allow your girls to recover from a long egg laying season. If you notice youve had the same hen hanging In rare cases, rodents may go after your chickens. Preening This is a common cause of small amounts of feather loss. feather loss, but it can cause other health problems, too. They will hide in corners of the coop and come out at night to snack on your chickens. When it comes to the red mite dust is there any particular brand I should use or a brand I should stay away from? Hi, one of my hens used to have tiny black bugs all over her, we called them mites and got dust and put it in her a lot, soon they were gone but a fox came and gave her a wound, we found out that the mites were eating at her wound and repopulated on her. They are unaware of the chicks (raising them in the garage until 6 weeks). This disease can cause a disgusting whitish yellow discharge to ooze from the vent, along with serious loss of feathers. Anything you can think? As they try to scratch them off, they lose their feathers. Shouldnt her molt be over by now? If you are certain is isnt a molt, I would check them for mites! Molting is a natural process that happens to every chicken at one point or another. Claire. There are several possible reasons chickens develop a red bottom and lose their feathers around their bums. However, sometimes it can be a cause for concern, so make sure to give your chickens a thorough inspection if/when they do lose their feathers. I dont have any blood I dont have any open sores just red butts and backs. Official bank website [url=http://odd-shrimp-44.anttunnel.com/work/drac/?s1=Money]Detail[/url]: [url=http://odd-shrimp-44.anttunnel.com/work/drac/?s1=Money]Official bank website[/url]. It can cause feather loss anywhere, but it will usually be around the vent area. Just make sure your chickens are well taken Also, our rooster, Randy, is looking quite dishevelled. Finally, around a year old, chickens start to moult, and this includes chickens losing vent feathers. My chicken has lost a 3in wide strip of feathers from her breast to her bottom. Go to official bank website By any chance do you have a rooster as well? Claire. 1. Does the entire flock bully her or just one or two hens? If you want to know more about chickens, quail, and goats, The Happy Chicken Coop is the place to be! If you recently walked out to your chicken coop to see a pile of feathers lying on the floor, dont panic. They are all around 5-6 months old. We have tried dysudusdirt, a lice mite spray and 7 dust. Any ideas on how th o protect her skin from the sun? She appeared very lethargic today. what kind of dusting powder do you need to get rid of mites? I would keep an eye over her the next few days and see if any other hens in the flock start dropping feathers or not. This is very strange. If you dont already know, the vent is the place on your chicken where it expels both waste and eggs. Parasites that live on the feathers can reach into the body and bite the chickens. Adding sea kelp or kelp meal to their diet. You might have hens who are high on the pecking order and feel the need to establish their dominance frequently through pulling the feathers of other chickens. The lice should float to the surface, after which you can dust your bird with diatomaceous earth. I have tried seven, blue kote, and even vitamin E. I do t know if I should separate her from the rest of the flock or not. 4. This will prevent opportunistic rodents from making their way into your coop. If you have an extreme feather-pulling rooster in your flock, you may need to separate him or cull him altogether. This is like when people lose skin cells or hair. I live in the uk, have 3 hens (this is their second summer on earth) and one of them has lost a line of feathers from right underneath her belly, between her legs. Your email address will not be published. The most common reason for feather loss in chickens is molting or molting, which is natural and involves replacing older feathers with new ones. I read you can mix some Apple Cider Vinegar to there water but what is the best ration? Could you email me so I can send photos? What could cause this. Sometimes chickens will pull their own feathers when they become broody. And if she is doing it to herself, what could be the cause? There are no feathers and the skin looks red. No change in food or coop. Keep cleaning the vent for as many days as it takes for the vent gleet to subside. One of the hens has lost a lot of her neck feathers and is bald on underside of neck. She looks like someone has chewed her up. Hi Maria, If sohow many chickens per square foot? No fur or feathers around vent. Yes June is very early for a molt so Id be surprised if it was this early. Im not sure if weather is a factor. Claire. By changing their diet, if youre not careful, you can reduce the amount of protein your chickens are getting, and this can cause them to molt. Is there something I can do to get them to stop pulling out the new growth? She is free range (plenty of bugs and snails, plenty of room) and gets a normal layers mash. Is it just the one chicken that has lost its feather or all of your flock? Hi, I have a Barred Rock. You could also add some electrolyte to her water. Fortunately, if your rooster is placed with several hens, then this balding wont be noticeable. The first sign may be a dead hen with blood around the tail and vent area. Claire. The best way to increase her protein is by changing her feed to game feed Please respond I really love this chicken, her name is Fluffy, and shes my Familys original hen, thanks a lot. Our article on flock behavior should help: Can you email us a photo and we will see how we can help! Red bums how do I take care of it. Removing the chickens missing feathers from the flock temporarily. Summer (my favorite chicken) has been the victim of some bullying and pecking for a few months, but blood has never been drawn and it seemed to be getting better. My cock feather fall on the neck it look a patch slowly feel another feathers also, Our chickens are only losing feathers on their rear ends. Its getting colder and Im worried about them. I am going through the same thing and I suspect that it could be lice. Now I was wondering if that was just because it was already dead and not getting any nutrition. Don't forget to dust the roosting bar with D.E. He is now king of the coop, but with terrible tail feathers, his body has cleaned up, with care & good food. I guess Ill try the poultry dust just in case. There are two main reasons why a chicken would lose its feathers. One of my hens was the roosters favorite and she lost a lot of feathers. She doesnt have mites. feather loss, and while you may not be concerned about the fact that your For many years, industrial farmers often forced their chickens to molt and to improve their egg quality by aggressively changing their diet. See no sign of that happening now. I separated her from the rest and when I tried to put her back they attacked her again. Some use a 20% flock raiser feed and supplement calcium with crushed oyster shell. Strangely, she hasnt starting laying eggs yet, even at her age, so I cant tell if shes molting from decrease in egg production or not. We have barred plint rocks, they were hatched march 1, 2016. My hens moulted right before winter, however only one of the three has gotten the feathers back. DDW, I know my questions have been published, but no one has replied. So in effect it is not a cause but a symptom. I have a chick not even 2 months old that is bald between the wings. did you ever get any answers? Pasty butt. Know Your Chickens is a free resource dedicated to teaching backyard chicken owners more about their flock. All the other chicks seem healthy, no feather loss etc. Took her to the vet and they said she was in shock. With it being on their back, I suspect the pin feathers are getting worn off with mating. Is this normal for shock? She is towards the bottom of the pecking order. Are you sure they arent just starting their molt? Claire, I bought 5 Rhode Island red hens. To do this, I place them in a separate smaller pan for a couple of days. Only giving snacks and treats in moderation. they are not eating as much either. She recently has been losing a lot of feathers. It can lead to feather loss around the vent and the entire backside of your chickens. Hi Amy, I would recommend you read our molting article to make sure It is most commonly seen in hens. What can I do to take care of it before I find a permanent owner? She is free range roams the entire 1/6 acre back yard. Behavior, Scratching (excessively) Behavior, Straining to defecate (constipation) Behavior, Weakness Behavior, Yawning Body, Bleeding Body, Lump or Mass Body, Seizures Body, Stunted or reduced growth Body, weight gain Body, Weight loss Breathing, abnormal sounds (rales) Breathing, gaping, gasping, difficulty Breathing, Panting Comb, Black spots