BSL Missing Feathers near butt

[Hen Pen Jem]

Greetings dylanwitt,

I had to magnify the photos to take a better look. Your view is better than mine.

The skin doesn't look terribly irritated, and the feather loss is not the worst I've seen. But, yes it would be good for the chicken, if you attended to this. I didn't see any evidence of diarrhea. But, I do see a scab, that she may have done during preening or another hen could have pecked her. And she does have some reddened skin. There are also two strange looking linear shapes on her skin, bits of feather maybe?

It's really hard to see lice and mites on dark feathered birds.

You may also, want to send a fecal sample out to make sure she isn't struggling with internal parasites, as well. I would provide a bit more protein to the weekly rations, she should do just fine. Check her legs for scaley leg mites, too, as they look a little rough. Epsom Salt baths work very well for scaley leg mites, then a slather of vitamin A&D ointment (baby diaper rash ointment). You can also apply it to irritated skin. If it's cold where you live, you may want to wait till it warms up, to bathe her.

Vent Gleet is another problem that can affect the vent and belly of the hen. However, it too, has defined symptoms.

Here is a good article about Vent Gleet, and includes a natural treatment plan.
www.fresheggsdaily.com/2013/09/vent-gleet-symptoms-causes-and-natural.html

I always say trouble comes in threes, so don't just focus on one thing.

I hope this is helpful. Please consider the advice of other members, too.

God Bless

 

[dylanwitt]

Greetings dylanwitt,

I had to magnify the photos to take a better look. Your view is better than mine.

The skin doesn't look terribly irritated, and the feather loss is not the worst I've seen. But, yes it would be good for the chicken, if you attended to this. I didn't see any evidence of diarrhea. But, I do see a scab, that she may have done during preening or another hen could have pecked her. And she does have some reddened skin. There are also two strange looking linear shapes on her skin, bits of feather maybe?

View attachment 1316606
View attachment 1316609
It's really hard to see lice and mites on dark feathered birds.

You may also, want to send a fecal sample out to make sure she isn't struggling with internal parasites, as well. I would provide a bit more protein to the weekly rations, she should do just fine. Check her legs for scaley leg mites, too, as they look a little rough. Epsom Salt baths work very well for scaley leg mites, then a slather of vitamin A&D ointment (baby diaper rash ointment). You can also apply it to irritated skin. If it's cold where you live, you may want to wait till it warms up, to bathe her.

Vent Gleet is another problem that can affect the vent and belly of the hen. However, it too, has defined symptoms.

Here is a good article about Vent Gleet, and includes a natural treatment plan.
www.fresheggsdaily.com/2013/09/vent-gleet-symptoms-causes-and-natural.html

I always say trouble comes in threes, so don't just focus on one thing.

I hope this is helpful. Please consider the advice of other members, too.

God Bless

Thank you very much for your help! Is there any specific foods or snacks that you give your birds to give them some increased protein? I've read online that oats are a fan favorite but I wasn't sure if there was any others that were superior?

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Greetings dylanwitt,

There are many sources of protein that you can provide for your chickens, during times of stress, molting, or other feather loss, and illness. It's hard for the chickens to find extra protein in the Winter and late Summer, as insects and worms populations dwindle. Or, bad weather, which is also a stressor, just doesn't allow for them to forage.

You can select from vegetarian, meat or fish proteins.

Vegetarian: Wheat, oats groats, barley, brown rice, peas, lentils, tofu 10 gms/.5 cup. All legumes must be cooked before feeding to chickens, pastas too.

Meat: eggs, chicken, turkey, beef, or pork. I always cook the meat proteins I give my chickens. Some keepers even give their flock, left over cooked, chicken or turkey carcasses to peck at.

Fish: I don't feed salt or fresh water fish, because of concerns of mercury. The body mass ratio of chickens is so much smaller than that of a human being, and I just don't want to take the chance, it's a personal choice.

Here is a link to a chart that shows all the protein values of various foods.
http://www.todaysdietitian.com/pdf/webinars/ProteinContentofFoods.pdf

The chart doesn't show oats, but the protein value is 6 grams for one cup of cooked oat groats. But, oats like barley are so good for chickens and people too. These grains, not only provide protein, energy, and essential vitamins and minerals, they are soothing for the intestines during illness, too.

Grains can also be sprouted to increase protein value. I've done this too, but the chickens were not too impressed.

When I feed protein to my chickens, I mix in cooked grains: oat groats, wheat berries, brown rice, and barley. I also add some mixed cooked frozen vegies, and sometimes diced fruit, very easy. This way, they have a well rounded supplemental meal.
But, every keeper has their own special way of giving extra nutrition to their flock. I have never had any of my chickens become overweight by supplemental feedings. But, I am careful not to overfeed and I do balance food groups for better nutrition.

Nutrition is a huge subject, but I hope this little bit of info is helpful.

God Bless