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Why is my RIR plucking her feathers?

post #1 of 9
8/10/12 at 7:26pm
Thread Starter 

She's 23 weeks old and plucking the feather out on her back.  I've read that it could be lack of protein, but I'm using Ranch Pro 15% Egg Ration Crumbles isn't that is good enough?  She's not molting.  She's got plenty of room - I've only got 5 chickens and lots of space.  There are no mites or anything on her skin.  The other chickens are perfectly fine.  What's up with her?

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post #2 of 9
8/10/12 at 10:25pm
Hi smile.png
I know that all kinds of birds pluck their feathers when they feel stressed. Is there anything at all you could think of that might be worrying her?
Chooks, quails, budgies, cockatiel, pepper the dog and the wild peacocks and bush turkeys, white faced herons nesting and other wilds birds
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Chooks, quails, budgies, cockatiel, pepper the dog and the wild peacocks and bush turkeys, white faced herons nesting and other wilds birds
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post #3 of 9
8/11/12 at 4:57am
Thread Starter 
It has been 99-104 degrees lately, but I've been giving then ice water and they have a fan.
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post #4 of 9
8/11/12 at 5:03am

sounds like molting to me, why do you say she is not?

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post #5 of 9
8/11/12 at 5:37am
It could be lice because ice chew on a chicken causeing the chicken to to break or pull off its feathers trying to stop the irritation. chickens with louse don't lay well and you can see the straw colores pest crawl along the chickens skin.
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post #6 of 9
8/13/12 at 6:54pm
Thread Starter 

I don't think she's molting because it is only one spot that is missing feathers.    There is no lice, I checked.    It's not really a bad problem, I just don't want it to get worse. 

 

700

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post #7 of 9
8/13/12 at 7:07pm
Hmmmmm..... Maybe some of the others have gone cannibal. For now, you can use a product called vet RX to soften the skin and promote feather growth. Maybe she's just a slow molter....? Best of luck. big_smile.png
Turkey Lover, aka Gobble Girl. also raise dark brahmas and other show quality birds....which are also my pets
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Turkey Lover, aka Gobble Girl. also raise dark brahmas and other show quality birds....which are also my pets
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post #8 of 9
8/13/12 at 7:26pm
Thread Starter 

Thanks! 

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post #9 of 9
8/13/12 at 9:54pm
Doesn't sound like malting to me, as they usually start around their neck. I would just go with the vet RX at the moment, and hopefully it will improve soon smile.png
Chooks, quails, budgies, cockatiel, pepper the dog and the wild peacocks and bush turkeys, white faced herons nesting and other wilds birds
Reply
Chooks, quails, budgies, cockatiel, pepper the dog and the wild peacocks and bush turkeys, white faced herons nesting and other wilds birds
Reply
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BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Emergencies / Diseases / Injuries and Cures › Why is my RIR plucking her feathers?