Bare butts!!!!!

[tkline704]

Since spring, 7 of my 8 hens have bare butts and very minimal tail feathers. There doesn't seem to be any regrowth at all and I'm getting worried with fall/winter approaching. I constantly check them for mites etc, keep their coop and run clean and feed them the same things I did last year. Please, does anyone have any suggestions or ideas of what I should do? NOTE: Everyone is laying and in good health other than missing feathers!

 

[sourland]

If number 8 is in pristine condition, I'm guessing that she is feather plucking/eating the feathers of the rest. Do an on site search on 'Pinless Peepers'.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It does sound like feather picking, which is mostly caused by not enough protein, crowding or boredom, time to have a look at your set up and see if anything needs changing, the only feather picker I ever had was a sex link hen, I think they have a higher protein need because of the high production, so maybe look for some higher protein ration.