CHICKENS LOST BACK FEATHERS, AREN'T GROWING BACK

[watermelon]

My landlord technically owns these chickens, and I have been giving them Purina brand chicken food from our feed store, but he mainly feeds them tons of bread and bread products like bagels. (I've tried to tell him how malnourished they will be) I also occassionally go to the grocery store and ask for their old produce, and try to give them something fresh every day. He also has introduced 3 new hens and a rooster to the flock, and that is when the losing of feathers began, but now, well over a month after the rooster left (yay!) the chickens aren't growing back their feathers, and some are actually losing more. Is this malnutrition or something else? I don't see any mites. How long should it take for new feathers to grow?

 

[Johnn]

It will be mating damage. They will need a higher protein food to grow the feathers back as the cockerel wont stop mating them, the ones with the feathers missing are obviously his faves. You should give them some scrambled egg as it is high in protein or tell him to put them on Growers Pelltes. Its a high protein feed but contains little, if not not calcium so they will need to have a pot of oyster shells available at all times. Also have you checked them for lice/mites? Its probably not the, but it will be good to know for sure. Good Luck.

 

[Johnn]

Also a lot of bread is bad. Its ok to give as a treat but it shouldn't be daily and definitely shouldn't be their main diet.

 

[watermelon]

Oh I completely agree.