Well, this has me stumped. I posted this same problem back in February. At that time, it was a problem with only one hen. Now, almost everybody is showing some problems. The feathers are not being pecked out. Just the tips are breaking off. At first, I thought the little hen was starting to molt, but now it has been three months and she looks the same. This picture is from February. I didn't bother with a new picture, because she hasn't changed.
The one below is her as a juvenile.
OK, now my GLW roo is starting to get some of the same broken feathers. Here is a picture from back in January.
Here is what things are looking like today:
Both of these chickens are 1 year old. Some of the other affected birds are 14 months. As you can see in the pictures, the feathers are still there, just broken off at the ends. The feather coverage is VERY thick. Heavy down makes it hard to spread them apart to see their skin.
OK, here's the answers to some of the questions you are sure to ask.
Have I checked for mites?
I've looked these guys over so many time I feel like a poultry proctologist. Nothing! No signs of anything moving. No bites. No scabs. No eggs. I've checked at night. I've looked during the day under a 500w halogen flood light. Neck, under the wings, back, breast, vent area. Zilch!
What are they eating?
16.5% layer. I've just started allowing them access to some 18% starter/grower with 8% fish meal. They also have free choice oyster shell and free range from 7am, until dark, eating grass, bugs and leaves, picking up grit from the driveway.
What kinds of treats?
31% dry cat food, BOSS, scratch, kitchen scraps.
Housing?
Each of these birds are in different coops. Run space is about 12 sqft. per chicken. Coop area is 4 sqft. in one, 5 sqft. in the other. Run access 24/7. No sign of mice in the coop. No openings big enough for rats to get in. Fresh water in the coop and outside. Pine shavings in one coop, oak chips in the other.
Body condition and activity?
These guys are everywhere. Far from listless and tired. Weight seems about right. It's just the dang feathers look terrible!
Any ideas? Are they getting too much protein? Mineral problems? I tried to pull out a feather to take a close up picture, but they are really in there good, just very brittle. What now. Regardless of what I do now, they're stuck with these feathers until molt. I just want to make sure the new feathers don't end up this way too.
Help?
The one below is her as a juvenile.
OK, now my GLW roo is starting to get some of the same broken feathers. Here is a picture from back in January.
Here is what things are looking like today:
Both of these chickens are 1 year old. Some of the other affected birds are 14 months. As you can see in the pictures, the feathers are still there, just broken off at the ends. The feather coverage is VERY thick. Heavy down makes it hard to spread them apart to see their skin.
OK, here's the answers to some of the questions you are sure to ask.
Have I checked for mites?
I've looked these guys over so many time I feel like a poultry proctologist. Nothing! No signs of anything moving. No bites. No scabs. No eggs. I've checked at night. I've looked during the day under a 500w halogen flood light. Neck, under the wings, back, breast, vent area. Zilch!
What are they eating?
16.5% layer. I've just started allowing them access to some 18% starter/grower with 8% fish meal. They also have free choice oyster shell and free range from 7am, until dark, eating grass, bugs and leaves, picking up grit from the driveway.
What kinds of treats?
31% dry cat food, BOSS, scratch, kitchen scraps.
Housing?
Each of these birds are in different coops. Run space is about 12 sqft. per chicken. Coop area is 4 sqft. in one, 5 sqft. in the other. Run access 24/7. No sign of mice in the coop. No openings big enough for rats to get in. Fresh water in the coop and outside. Pine shavings in one coop, oak chips in the other.
Body condition and activity?
These guys are everywhere. Far from listless and tired. Weight seems about right. It's just the dang feathers look terrible!
Any ideas? Are they getting too much protein? Mineral problems? I tried to pull out a feather to take a close up picture, but they are really in there good, just very brittle. What now. Regardless of what I do now, they're stuck with these feathers until molt. I just want to make sure the new feathers don't end up this way too.
Help?
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