Chicken losing feathers ????

[RipsRidges2]

Whole feathers.

 

[Eggcessive]

Layer pellets are 16% protein, while scratch is 8%. They need a minimum of 16% or a maximum of 20% protein. Flock Raiser or an all flock feed is 20%, or you can give all 16% layer, and give some extra protein, such as meal worms, ground meat or liver. Some give a high quality dry cat food (32%) in very small amounts. There is also 24% gamebird starter to use as a supplement. I would also spend some time watching them just to check if she is being pecked.

 

[RipsRidges2]

Went out a few minutes ago. Barely touched her tail and these basically fell out.

 

[Eggcessive]

That is what it started like. However it is getting much worse. I was just out with her and barely touched her tail and these basically dropped out. No sign of mites.

Well, that sounds like a molt, and she is the right age for it.

 

[RipsRidges2]

Layer pellets are 16% protein, while scratch is 8%. They need a minimum of 16% or a maximum of 20% protein. Flock Raiser or an all flock feed is 20%, or you can give all 16% layer, and give some extra protein, such as meal worms, ground meat or liver. Some give a high quality dry cat food (32%) in very small amounts. There is also 24% gamebird starter to use as a supplement. I would also spend some time watching them just to check if she is being pecked.

Thank You Very much for the information. I will increase the protein for a while. Any guestimate as to how long before I should see any improvement? Barely touched her tail and these basically fell out.

 

[Eggcessive]

In my last post, I stated it really sounds like a molt. She will grow new feathers a little at a time. Chickens molt at different rates. Some quickly, some take a month or two. Some can molt without much notice other than losing tail feathers.

 

[Chickassan]

She's 1 and a half years old, that's eighteen months the magical molting age. Molting is scary and you're sure they're going to freeze to death but they won't. Just keep her diet high in protein give her chopped boiled eggs, mealworms, a little hamburger meat and you'll be amazed at how quickly and beautifully the feathers regrow.

 

[RipsRidges2]

Thank You for the information. Greatly appreciated. Also, I think I may have been giving them to much people food, although I give them about 3 cups of pellets and 3 cups of scratch about every 3rd day. The sparrows might be eating some.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Thank You Very much for the information. I will increase the protein for a while. Any guestimate as to how long before I should see any improvement? Barely touched her tail and these basically fell out.
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It can be scary when you see them first molt. It can happen so fast! Here is a picture of Mary Poopins, who was. Black Austrolorp who had the worst molts!

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Here is a Bielefelder from this year. Poor thing!