Chickens losing feathers due to a skin disease or just molting?

[Halfpasthen]

It is still not chicken feed and why provide food intended for mammals when the simplest thing is to just give animal protein?

I'm not at all arguing in favor of feeding a chicken cat food. Not even in the slightest lol. I was just saying on a dry matter basis canned pet food is equivalent in protein to kibble. I only thought I'd mention it in case you were concerned about feeding it to your cats.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I'm not at all arguing in favor of feeding a chicken cat food. Not even in the slightest lol. I was just saying on a dry matter basis canned pet food is equivalent in protein to kibble. I only thought I'd mention it in case you were concerned about feeding it to your cats.

X2
It is the same argument as the amount of protein in eggs - on the basis of hydrated vs. dry componenst.

 

[DoubleYolk123]

Bought some mealworms today, they seemed to like them so I’ll start giving them some very few days, and reduce the amount of other stuff to balance their diet out x

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Good plan.

Perhaps a jolt of animal protein could change their behavior in short order.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Well, I certainly hope she isn't melting, but I agree, it seems like lack of protein.

 

[centrarchid]

If they are going into molt, which is likely for adult birds past they first egg production season of life in the northern hemisphere, then egg production is going to slow. That will reduce need for calcium. The start of molt will increase need for protein compared to when not in lay. I mix into the layer feed another feed with higher protein levels and ideally more vitamins as well. Chick starter / grower works well for that. My preference is to use a pelleted flock raiser that has a protein percentage of 18 to 20%. My birds get the lower quality greens free-choice. The feeding activity on the flock raiser or young bird feed I watch and use as a guide for increasing or decreasing how that more expensive feed is rationed.

 

[Folly's place]

I feed everyone an all flock feed, 20% protein, all the time, with oyster shell in a separate container. they get very limited scratch as a treat occasionally, and do free range when it's possible. Birds not actively laying eggs don't need the extra calcium in layer feeds, and shouldn't have it.
Meal worms are very high in fat, not a good thing either. Cats need high protein and high fat diets, and cat food is best saved for cats, not chickens. As @Halfpasthen mentioned, it's the dry matter assay that matters! No cat would survive on a diet of 11% protein by dry matter assay!
It's also easier, and less expensive, to feed a balanced diet to the birds, rather than adding extras and hoping that it will all work out.
Mary

 

[DoubleYolk123]

Thanks for all the device guys, I have another issue that I’ll be putting on a different thread about not laying in nest boxes, appreciate it if you all hoped over and checked it out x

 

[Owenp_2]

Hi, I have a brown hybrid who had a small bold patch for a while now, but recently it’s started growing and at first I thought I’d was melting but no one else seem to be doing the same. The skin seems a little sore on one spot but there is no blood or cuts and the she doesn’t seem to flinch if we touch it?
There are no mites and everyone is eating, laying and drinking normally.
Thanks in advance xView attachment 2324926

When molting most breeds don't look like that however the same thing happened to me when my hen walked over a yellow jacket nest and got stung. It did look like that for a few weeks.