Check out these crazy feathers from my bantam barred rock hen

[Kanchii]

As you can see on the straight feather on the left, its like the feather suddenly gets thinner, with the barring more tight, and then spreads back out like normal. Next to it is a smaller version, and then the two on the right were CURLY. They were twirled around, isn't that crazy? And they also had the thinner, tighter barred areas too.

What could have caused her feathers to grow like this? She's about 2 years old I think. She's been really broody for like 3 months, so she hasn't been moving much and hasnt had much to eat or drink, her face is pale.

Very interesting, no?

 

[jjhuntsalot]

very cool feathers!!!

 

[Kanchii]

Quote:
Very. I should create a new type of bird. Like, frizzled, except they'd be called... Spiraled. lol

 

[walkswithdog]

In parrots those are called stress bars, periods where feather growth is affected by diet or stress. Sometimes in parrots they also look torn or thin. Looks like the less rigid chicken feather is less subject to tearing.

 

[walkswithdog]

And if it's a genetic freak and continues it's not spiraled - it's KINKY for-petes-sake. LOL

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

If she is getting a complete laying/breeding ration, including calcium, in her diet, I wouldn't worry.

 

[cybercat]

That would be a diet defiancy during that part of the feathers growth. Since she has been broody that would explain why the feathers have grown like that. You might need to get her off the nest and get her to eat. 3 months is a long time to be a broody.

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

Quote:
Oh, wow! I didn't read that part. Either get that gal some chicks and let her brood them, or break her up from the nest. That's just too long to be broody. I bet she'll be a great mama though.

 

[Kanchii]

Quote:
Oh, wow! I didn't read that part. Either get that gal some chicks and let her brood them, or break her up from the nest. That's just too long to be broody. I bet she'll be a great mama though.

Well what happened was for a month solid we were losing a bunch of birds to predators and she went missing, so we figured she was gone! Then last week, Alyssa's mom found her sitting on a nest behind the horses hay! LOL

I did the cold water dunking treatment today, which I heard helps snap them out of it since when they're broody their temperature rises, and cooling them of can help them get out of it. Hopefully it'll work.

She's in a small coop with another hen and my rooster, for breeding. And I need to leave the nest box in their for them to lay in.

 

[speckledhen]

Another cause is worming with certain products. For instance, fenbendazole will cause feather deformities if given during a molt.