Chickens looks like they've been attacked ... but haven't ... maybe?

[mrpekinduck]

If it a rooster than you can get hen saddles and theres and add for it somewhere on BYC or you can google hen saddles.

 

[DanLeaAnn7]

We have chickens that look just like that ! No roosters, and we have seen the mean chickens pick the feathers right off the poor chickens back - My 22 chickens have a huge run, and coop. I think they do this when they are bored. I sacrificed the garden to them, but now that it has been picked clean they are back to picking each other. I know for us, it is the heat, we are still in the 100's here, and the girls spend most days in the coop. Othter wise my girls are in top shape. I use the rooster booster too, but the poor girls that get picked really hate it, and they will try and pick the rooster booster off of themselves, I have the best luck with giving the chickens lots of food/things to keep them from being bored. Hope this helps!Q

 

[ChixinLyons]

Except we don't have a rooster ... checked last night and no parasites ... the feathers are broken off and some are pulled out completely, but nowhere to be found in the coop or pen. Still a bit confused, but not as worried! Thanks!

 

[ChixinLyons]

Quote:
I'm thinking you may be right that they're bored. I'll keep an eye on them and make sure no one is getting picked on while the two heal up. I'll look into hen saddles, too. Thanks to all!

 

[sgtmom52]

Quote:
I have 6 girls and a roo that all look like that. On mine it is feather picking (we see it happening) and started last winter when we had a lot of snow and they didn't want to go outside ~ even though the doors were open and part of the run cleared. Unfortunately it appears that they developed a picking habit which has continued though out the year. They have been checked for bugs and the 4 month olds in the same coop & run don't have the problem ~ they are quick and stay out of the older hens way. The adjoining coops & runs also don't have the problem. I have tried pinless peepers and they managed to get them off ~ but I think I will try them again. I try to give them plenty to keep them occupied and keep up their protein levels.

 

[Jerseycoop]

I have an EE just like your girl and she too lost a patch of feathers on her back near her tail. I noticed it Sunday. No blood but quills of what looked like feathers pulled out. There was no blood. Under advice from my buddy at Agway she assured me it was a molt going on. I did buy poultry protector spray in case it was lice, mites or fleas but I didn't see anything. I looked up an old thread from Octiber 2009, typed in pics of molting in search bar and my girl looked identical to the pics. Apparently, it
Is common for molting to begin in October for some. Just an idea

 

[FisherMOM]

Just a thought.. I know that mice eat feathers... would they be bold enough to take them right off the chicken?

Just wondering this because you aren't finding the feathers.