easter egger shaved

[anag]

My 4 chickens went through their first winter and it was a doozy with snow and cold weather. Its finally warming up and I let them out the other day to free range and noticed the Peeps - my Easter Egger looked different. Then I realized to my horror that she is missing her beard! I have read in the forum that it is probably due to protein deficiency? Is that the final word? Is it possible that they are all bored having been locked up in their run for weeks due to back to back snow storms? They usually get a few hours a day of free range time when we are around.

Also I was curious to read that someones chicken was plucking its own feathers? Is that possible? If not, is it worth trying to figure out who did it ? She is one of the most pasive and friendliest of the bunch. Though they all use to strike me as pretty well behaved...

Also my white Leghorn has been on a laying strike for over a month now. I initially thought it was due to the bad weather but now that it has warmed up that excuse is gone. She has the same energy as always and doesnt look sick though there is some pathches of dirt on her feathers but that may be from the petroleum I put on her comb a while ago. I tried to wipe it clean myself once and the dirt wouldnt budge.

Any ideas?

Chicken Mayhem in New Jersey...

 

[Kittymomma]

Boredom/overcrowding will cause feather picking and mites/lice are also possibilities. It would help if you could tell us what their coop/run size is, what do you feed them, and how old are they?

ETA:

 

[sgtmom52]

Can you post a good picture of her face?

 

[anag]

They are 4 chickens. They will be a year old this June. Their coop is 3x3 feet and their run is 6 x 8. They get out around twice a day for a couple of hours when there is no snow on the ground. We are planning to expand the run this spring. They eat organic pellets as feed and I have been guilty of supplementing over these cold winter months. On a daily basis I give them a treat in the morning. Either warm oatmeal with milk or yogurt or cottage cheese and twice a week they get sprouts or some sort of green.

I will post a picture as soon as I can get it.

Is there anything I can do to help the feathers grow back?

 

[Kittymomma]

Your coop is pretty small for four chickens, though the run is an ok size. My first thought is it's an overcrowding issue especially if they've been spending a lot of time in the coop with the bad weather. As far as growing feathers back it takes time. The first thing you need to do is address the underlying problem of overcrowding. Switching them to a higher protien feed like gamebird or flockraiser will help them grow their feathers in since feather growth is a high protien undertaking. If you do switch their feed make sure to put oyster shell (it's very low-cost) out for them free-choice so they can meet their calcium needs. Hanging a head of cabbage for them to peck at can help re-direct the feather picking behaviour until you can expand their coop.

Rule of thumb for LF is 4 square feet in the coop and 10 square feet for the run. You want to give them even more coop space if your run is not covered and they spend more time in the coop when the weather is bad.

 

[anag]

Sorry, their coop is 4x3 - 12 square feet.

 

[Kung Foo Chicken]

Are the feathers non-existent or do they just not have beards?
My dad has 5 easter egg hens. Two have no beard and never did.
One of those lays a blue egg and the other a round dark green egg.

 

[anag]

Here is a before and after. They get out of the coop every day as I cover the run with plastic when it snows.

She was so beautiful. I really hope they grow back.

 

[Kung Foo Chicken]

Ok she had a beard before.

Perhaps she is molting around the face or has mites?
My D'uccle roo lost his beard from mites around his face once
and was made worse because his hens picked at his beard (guess eating the mites).

I usually use poultry dust but, being so close to his face I gave him a bath in watered down dish washing detergent. (A bubble bath).
When I dried him I dusted under his wings and on his behind. They won't grow the feathers back till next molt.

She's cute btw. My dad has one that looks very similar. She even has the crooked tail.

 

[Fanny]

I know how you feel - mine is looking just as sad

I really miss her big, beautiful beard!

I'm just hoping it's a temporary moulting thing, and that it will grow back soon. I haven't seen any mites, and she seems otherwise healthy.