chicken not growing feathers, help

[crazyducklady23]

I got a hen two months ago and when I got her I noticed she had hardly any feathers on her back and neck. I figured she would grow them back but it seems it's just getting worse. It looks like my other hens are starting to have the same skin condition. Is there anything I can give them to help them?


Thanks!

 

[Mr Beaks]

I got a hen two months ago and when I got her I noticed she had hardly any feathers on her back and neck. I figured she would grow them back but it seems it's just getting worse. It looks like my other hens are starting to have the same skin condition. Is there anything I can give them to help them?


Thanks!

Hi crazyducklady. I'm no expert by any means but the only causes that come to mind are external parasites (lice, mites & fleas,) fowl pox and protein deficiency. Can you post pics?

 

[crazyducklady23]

The red chicken was the one that I first got and looked just like this when I got her the white chicken below was one I had previously and it looks like she is getting the same type of disease on her back. Sorry the pictures aren't the best!

 

[Mr Beaks]

The red chicken was the one that I first got and looked just like this when I got her the white chicken below was one I had previously and it looks like she is getting the same type of disease on her back. Sorry the pictures aren't the best!

My Rhode Island Red looks similar to your red in the placement of the balding due to on overly affectionate rooster. If the problem occurred in the white bird only after introducing the red my guess would be lice or mites. I have not encountered that problem yet but I've read here that Sevin dust works well. If it were me I would check them over before treating. Check around the vent and elsewhere at the base of the feathers and on skin. Some mites only feed at night and hide in the coop during the day so check at night with a flashlight. A good, thorough cleaning of the coop is necessary if pests are present.

 

[Mr Beaks]

Crazyducklady23, how are your girls?

 

[crazyducklady23]

Update!

Well my white chicken is starting to grow her feathers back so I am wondering is she was molting at the time. As for my red chicken she is still pretty much the same. I checked at night to see if there were any lice and/or fleas present and seen nothing. The rest of the chickens are doing great at well. Since having her I noticed that her feathers try to come in but then break off. They all look very brittle. Also, I have a chicken that is laying my eggs that are not hard shell. (When you go to make eggs in the morning and you give it a little tap to crack it open and the entire egg shell just falls apart where are normally you give it one or two taps on the dish and area able to keep the egg shell pretty much intact while opening it up. Not sure if it is her or not though..... I looked for something at Tractor Supply and found a mix that helps with the feathers and "hard egg development" no signs of improvement yet...

 

[Mr Beaks]

I just read on another forum about feather loss that if the feathers have been broken (as opposed to pulled clean out) and part of the shaft remains they will not grow out until molt. Upping the protein doesn't mean that they will grow back sooner. It just aids in quicker feather growth once they do molt. As far as the eggs go I would make sure they have free choice oyster shell along with their feed for stronger shells. I apologize for taking so long to respond. My device (phone ) is not working well!

 

[crazyducklady23]

No problem at all! Technology! haha Thanks for getting back to me!

 

[crazyducklady23]

Update....so my hen seems to be doing worse. Instead of growing her feathers back it looks like she is getting worse. Also, she is starting to act weird....I walked into the chicken coop to find her sitting at the bottle of her roosting spot when all the chickens go including herself. When I went to pick her up for the night and place her on the roosting area she was so heavy to pick up? Also, my white chicken is starting to look the same again....I'm so confused...

I cleaned the chicken coop out good, have been looking at night for lice/mites, have been putting oyster shells in layer pellets, and have been adding nutri-drench in their water...HELP!

 

[crazyducklady23]

Forgot to add that the eggs I am getting that are thin shells and break VERY easily are also starting to become wrinkled.This started about a month ago. The rest of my chicken eggs are completely fine. I am not sure if it is her or not though is my problem....Could this be Infectious bronchitis?