Greetings,
I’ve got a pecked in my hands that’s getting the blinders tomorrow.
Some of my rocks have been showing some signs of their feathers being plucked above the tail. There’s one pristine JGiant who I think is doing it. She is getting blinders. I’ve gotten a new puppy and work has been 50/wk so I’ve been busy with those. The chickens is keep an eye on, but not close enough it seems.
So with the feather pulling, one has gotten it pretty bad. Feather shafts are about what’s left in a baseball size patch above her tail. Definitely pecking and pulling. They weren’t doing badly until after a cold snap we had a few weeks ago where they were confined for a few days in the coop.
I’m a bit concerned as their combs are turning pale/whiteish at the tips and there’s blood spots on a lot of the combs, just little dried dots. the pecking damage looks pretty bad. I plan on putting blinders on the perfect giant as her feathers are in tact and comb has no blood specks.
Can’t seem to see any mites or lice. Checked around vents, the faces, random spot checks, nothing. I’ve been putting Rooster Booster No Peck on the bare spots…maybe it’ll help? Feathers are coming in so I think they are molting and getting pecked at, double whammy.
Coop is 8x8 for 8 birds. Run right now is another 100sqft+ (more each day as the snow melts). Mealworms for a treat in the AM, high protein layer feed (21%) for food, fresh water, poop cleaned off the board and out of the coop each day. Bedding is so-so but to be expected before spring clean out. I add more on top as I take some out when cleaning out manure. Roosts are too close I think so I’ll be removing the middle roost so they can’t reach each other at night. She just looks so rough it’s sad. . Tough birds with personality though, putting out close to an egg a day. Pale combs from molt? Bought a pecking block for some entertainment. They have the run and roosts outside that they use.
Thoughts?
I’ve got a pecked in my hands that’s getting the blinders tomorrow.
Some of my rocks have been showing some signs of their feathers being plucked above the tail. There’s one pristine JGiant who I think is doing it. She is getting blinders. I’ve gotten a new puppy and work has been 50/wk so I’ve been busy with those. The chickens is keep an eye on, but not close enough it seems.
So with the feather pulling, one has gotten it pretty bad. Feather shafts are about what’s left in a baseball size patch above her tail. Definitely pecking and pulling. They weren’t doing badly until after a cold snap we had a few weeks ago where they were confined for a few days in the coop.
I’m a bit concerned as their combs are turning pale/whiteish at the tips and there’s blood spots on a lot of the combs, just little dried dots. the pecking damage looks pretty bad. I plan on putting blinders on the perfect giant as her feathers are in tact and comb has no blood specks.
Can’t seem to see any mites or lice. Checked around vents, the faces, random spot checks, nothing. I’ve been putting Rooster Booster No Peck on the bare spots…maybe it’ll help? Feathers are coming in so I think they are molting and getting pecked at, double whammy.
Coop is 8x8 for 8 birds. Run right now is another 100sqft+ (more each day as the snow melts). Mealworms for a treat in the AM, high protein layer feed (21%) for food, fresh water, poop cleaned off the board and out of the coop each day. Bedding is so-so but to be expected before spring clean out. I add more on top as I take some out when cleaning out manure. Roosts are too close I think so I’ll be removing the middle roost so they can’t reach each other at night. She just looks so rough it’s sad. . Tough birds with personality though, putting out close to an egg a day. Pale combs from molt? Bought a pecking block for some entertainment. They have the run and roosts outside that they use.
Thoughts?