baboon butt chickens and forced molt?

[PDXChickGirl]

2 of my 3 chickens have "Baboon butt". I took one of them into the Avian Center (they specialize in backyard chickens and birds).

The doctor said she sees this condition in backyard chickens and it's cause is mystery. Apparently it doesn't show up in commercial chickens. Her theory is that it's harmonal. She said that doing a forced molt (feeding the girls no more than 1/2 cup of food a day) seems to reset it, and allows the girls to put their energies back into growing their feathers instead of trying to stay warm.

After reading about forced molt on this website, I'm concerned. This is a specialist in backyard pet chickens giving me this advice.

Thoughts?

Thank you!!

 

[debilorrah]

I got nothing for you except a laugh about the baboon butt! Mine are bald on the tops of their wings.

 

[silkiechicken]

Perhaps backyard birds are overly spoiled? I personally would just toss them on a high protein layer feed and no treats for a month.

 

[CarlaRiggs]

I'm not quite sure why you're concerned about the feather loss.
Is it actually molting (feather loss anywhere else on their bodies), or are they pulling feathers out from each other?
I wouldn't ever limit their feed to produce a false molt. What's the sense of that unless you're wanting to force more eggs.

It is a shock to see one's chickens without their beautiful tails, isn't it?

 

[PDXChickGirl]

They have had this condition for 6 months - no feathers are growing back. The only treats I give them are BOSS. Tried giving them some catfood for a while. Nothing seems to be working. Supposedly they aren't getting big enough either because so many calories are being expending to stay warm. Who knew these little guys could be so complicated?! (I thought baboon butt was a funny term too!!! The vet's - not mine!)

 

[Tuffoldhen]

I've always been told that forced molts are not good for chickens...Lots of people that show do this and have found it to create a bigger mess.. They get the forced molt and than another molt occurs alittle later and the chickens do not re-grow their feathers for along time on the second molt...

 

[Artana]

Has anyone heard of feather loss on the butt due to stress?

I purchased 2 laying hens from a 4-h teen, actually traded 2 "wild girl" leghorn pullets who roosted in my barn rafters. I gave them to a friend who was tired of waiting for his pullets to lay eggs. The 4-H'er said the whole flock had been recently moved from their roomy space at a local facility that supports the 4-H kids who don't have their own or sufficient space. They went to his coops, smaller and shared with 14 turkeys! One had a baboon butt look, the other had some feather loss in the back area. None of the other birds showed such signs. They are laying fine but they are not the most aesthetically pleasing birds.