Adopted a silkie chicken who was bald! Need advice on how to help her grow her feathers back faster.

[mizsmith]

Hello,

This past summer I adopted/rescued a little silkie hen who was always getting picked on. She was basically plucked. She had no feathers on her back, part of her wings , chest and head! (picture attached is of her when we first got her) So I took her under my wing so she wouldn't get picked on any more by roosters.
Now a 4-5 months have gone by and I still don't notice her feathers growing back. Almost looks a bit worse lately? Possibly molting? Her feathers that should be growing back look like longer quills now.. is that a good sign? Definitly feel the quills are growing as she was more bald before. Just seems still naked! Her skin seems a bit dry aswell and possibly flaking.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Thanks

 

[birds4kids]

Protein, what is her normal feed?
You haven't seen her picking them herself have you?

 

[mizsmith]

She is on a omega 3 hen layer feed and also gets a scratch with oyster shell. Gets eggs, veggies and fruit often aswell.
I have definitely not seen her pluck her own feathers or seen her get picked on.

 

[birds4kids]

I would try and get some more protein in her, extra eggs, "feather fixer" supplement or feed, mealworms, table scraps if not too salty. Feather fixer feed is 18% protein instead of the standard layer 16%, don't look at that as just 2% more protein, it is a 12.5% increase on protein a big jump. While scratch and veggie scraps are great for them it can take some thought to rebalance diet. For instance I put some dry mealworms in with the scratch to help bring protein balance up. I mix up a coffee can with scratch, some mealworms, grit and a little oyster shell and toss a handful when I collect eggs. Girls always seem to look forward to seeing me even though I don't handle them.