Dandruff!

[SurferchickinSB]

My chickens seem to have dandruff, lots of skin flaking on their feathers and below the roost on the poop board in the morning. Is this normal?

 

[ChickNanny13]

Normal, it's not "dandruff" but from the shaft of their new feathers growing out ... Not sure how to explain it but the best I can ... More experienced peepers will be chirping in shortly ...

 

[aart]

Yes, it's normal if your birds are growing in new feathers.
How old are they?
Chicks will grow 3 sets of new feathers between hatch and 6mo old.

It's the 'feather sheath'...as the feather grows out the birds will preen off the sheath and you'll see pieces of it all over.

This is a lot the 'dust' that happens all over your house when brooding inside, first the down that comes off when the first set of feathers grow in, then the feather sheathing.

 

[CrazyCrttr75]

I noticed that this happened with my chicks when I had them in their brooder and wondered about it as well. They were the first chicks that I'd ever owned so I was constantly looking at them and paranoid wondering if it was a mite or lice or something else since I've never experienced anything like it before. But they never moved so I figured they were ok. They've continued to grow up and now they're happy, healthy 13 week olds. I love this site so much! Now I've learned something new. Thx for asking the question.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Yes, it's normal if your birds are growing in new feathers.
How old are they?
Chicks will grow 3 sets of new feathers between hatch and 6mo old.

It's the 'feather sheath'...as the feather grows out the birds will preen off the sheath and you'll see pieces of it all over.

This is a lot the 'dust' that happens all over your house when brooding inside, first the down that comes off when the first set of feathers grow in, then the feather sheathing.

Thank you for explaining, could not get the right words out of my head

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Normal, it's not "dandruff" but from the shaft of their new feathers growing out ... Not sure how to explain it but the best I can ... More experienced peepers will be chirping in shortly ...

Oh, yes that’s what it looks like part of the shaft of the feather. Thank you

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Normal, it's not "dandruff" but from the shaft of their new feathers growing out ... Not sure how to explain it but the best I can ... More experienced peepers will be chirping in shortly ...

Oh, yes that’s what it looks like part of the shaft of the feather. Thank you

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Yes, it's normal if your birds are growing in new feathers.
How old are they?
Chicks will grow 3 sets of new feathers between hatch and 6mo old.

It's the 'feather sheath'...as the feather grows out the birds will preen off the sheath and you'll see pieces of it all over.

This is a lot the 'dust' that happens all over your house when brooding inside, first the down that comes off when the first set of feathers grow in, then the feather sheathing.

Thank you! They are 15 weeks old.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

I noticed that this happened with my chicks when I had them in their brooder and wondered about it as well. They were the first chicks that I'd ever owned so I was constantly looking at them and paranoid wondering if it was a mite or lice or something else since I've never experienced anything like it before. But they never moved so I figured they were ok. They've continued to grow up and now they're happy, healthy 13 week olds. I love this site so much! Now I've learned something new. Thx for asking the question.

I thought the exact same thing and keep picking them up and parting their feathers and looking under their wings and vent, lol!

 

[Tsjschickens]

Have you tried '' Hen & Shoulders" shampoo lol