Feather loss

[spiderlilly69]

I have a 4 1/2 month old Leghorn who has lost her feathers around her vent. Why would this be happening.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Sara Ranch]

Have you checked for mites/lice around the vent area?

Is she being picked on by the others?

Is she being mated with a lot?

What type of feed/how much feed?

Are any other chickens eating feathers?

Do you find the feathers in the coop? In the run? Is there poop stuck to the feathers?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

All good questions, we need more info. Feel free to post a pic if you can.

 

[spiderlilly69]

Have you checked for mites/lice around the vent area?

Is she being picked on by the others?

Is she being mated with a lot?

What type of feed/how much feed?

Are any other chickens eating feathers?

Do you find the feathers in the coop? In the run? Is there poop stuck to the feathers?

.....

No mites...she may be being picked/pecked on, she is the smaller of our flock.

I believe I only have pullets so there shouldn't be any mating going on.

We feed DuMor Grower/Finisher & Chicken Scratch; as for how much...we just put it in the feeder and let them eat as they please.

There are feathers in the coop, but not as many as before and no poop stuck to feathers, we check them pretty regularly for that.

Do the feathers grow back?

 

[Sara Ranch]

The feathers grow back AFTER a molt. So she may have a bare bottom for a another year or so.

It's possible the other chickens are plucking the feathers out. Posting a pic would help to know if it's a random, ouch thing or cannibalism, or maybe something else. (I don't know what the something else could be, but there are many who can share experiences/knowledge.)

 

[EggSighted4Life]

.....

No mites...she may be being picked/pecked on, she is the smaller of our flock.

I believe I only have pullets so there shouldn't be any mating going on.

We feed DuMor Grower/Finisher & Chicken Scratch; as for how much...we just put it in the feeder and let them eat as they please.

There are feathers in the coop, but not as many as before and no poop stuck to feathers, we check them pretty regularly for that.

Do the feathers grow back?

Do you know the Ratio of scratch to grower? You NEED to eliminate that scratch and make it an occasional treat totaling NOT more than 10% of your total ration... Or you WILL have feather picking issues that might lead to cannibalism as well as general health and laying issues. Scratch is a TREAT and not a source of whole nutrients. Feed, though made from corn mostly, has been fortified to meet the needs of the chickens. Yes they LOVE scratch because it is like a candy bar to them. Also, I wonder why people are so crazy about scratch when it's just as pricey as feed? Eating as they please should be fine as long as nutrients aren't diminished by scratch (usually 8% protein). So if you are doing say 50/50 and your grower/finisher is 18% (guessing just for example) Than that would be 18+8 divided by 2= 13% total protein. Ok, well I just looked it up and it's actually 15%... So 15+8=23 divided by 2= 11.5% total protein. I don't know the ratio you are mixing, but in my opinion this IS your problem. Gosh, I'm appalled that they sell grower with that low of value...

Feathers are made from 90% protein, or the amino acids that make them up. A hens' protein level should NEVER be less than 16% for light bodies like leghorn and 18% is preferred for heavier breeds like rocks.

While it's mostly true feathers won't grow back until molt, if they were completely pulled out and not just broken... I believe they will.

Regarding mites... I'm guessing you don't actually know, no rudeness intended... There are so many different types some are microscopic so you won't see even though you look and others don't live on the bird but only come out to feed at night, so again unless checked at the right time, you won't know. And there are 3 types of poultry lice (that I'm familiar with). Head, body, and feather. So they might not be noticeable at all places on the body.

Many use and are happy with Dumor. I also have found plenty that think their birds don't do as well on Dumor as other products, maybe a consideration for you. But I have a feeling eliminating or decreasing scratch will make a huge difference in you flock health.

Another question I didn't realize wasn't yet addressed is space. How much roost, coop, run/free range space do you have and for how many birds? Do you keep artificial light on them at night?

One other possibility that can cause vent balding though not my current suspicion is vent gleet/yeast infection.

And you haven't noticed any severe bullying directed at the leghorn? Does she cower down and run away from the other birds? Usually bullying doesn't stop just because you are watching.

 

[spiderlilly69]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

All good questions, we need more info. Feel free to post a pic if you can.

I'm at work at the moment, lol!

Do you know the Ratio of scratch to grower? You NEED to eliminate that scratch and make it an occasional treat totaling NOT more than 10% of your total ration... Or you WILL have feather picking issues that might lead to cannibalism as well as general health and laying issues. Scratch is a TREAT and not a source of whole nutrients. Feed, though made from corn mostly, has been fortified to meet the needs of the chickens. Yes they LOVE scratch because it is like a candy bar to them. Also, I wonder why people are so crazy about scratch when it's just as pricey as feed? Eating as they please should be fine as long as nutrients aren't diminished by scratch (usually 8% protein). So if you are doing say 50/50 and your grower/finisher is 18% (guessing just for example) Than that would be 18+8 divided by 2= 13% total protein. Ok, well I just looked it up and it's actually 15%... So 15+8=23 divided by 2= 11.5% total protein. I don't know the ratio you are mixing, but in my opinion this IS your problem. Gosh, I'm appalled that they sell grower with that low of value...

Feathers are made from 90% protein, or the amino acids that make them up. A hens' protein level should NEVER be less than 16% for light bodies like leghorn and 18% is preferred for heavier breeds like rocks.

While it's mostly true feathers won't grow back until molt, if they were completely pulled out and not just broken... I believe they will.

Regarding mites... I'm guessing you don't actually know, no rudeness intended... There are so many different types some are microscopic so you won't see even though you look and others don't live on the bird but only come out to feed at night, so again unless checked at the right time, you won't know. And there are 3 types of poultry lice (that I'm familiar with). Head, body, and feather. So they might not be noticeable at all places on the body.

Many use and are happy with Dumor. I also have found plenty that think their birds don't do as well on Dumor as other products, maybe a consideration for you. But I have a feeling eliminating or decreasing scratch will make a huge difference in you flock health.

Another question I didn't realize wasn't yet addressed is space. How much roost, coop, run/free range space do you have and for how many birds? Do you keep artificial light on them at night?

One other possibility that can cause vent balding though not my current suspicion is vent gleet/yeast infection.

And you haven't noticed any severe bullying directed at the leghorn? Does she cower down and run away from the other birds? Usually bullying doesn't stop just because you are watching.

Wow! I didn't realize there were so many factors going into feeding and raising chickens.

I will reduce the chicken scratch immediately. When feeding we fill their 20" feeder to the brim w/DuMor feed and then fill a chick feeder with scratch. Whatever is left from the previous day we dispose of and refill each morning with fresh feed.

We allow them to roam around the yard for about 2 hours a day (when it's cool enough) we live in AZ so that's usually in the morning and evening time. There is a total of 6 birds (3 RIR & 3 LH) in a space approximately 9x4. It's not huge but there's room for them to move around. I plan on giving them more space, I just have to wait until cooler weather.

No artificial light at night, is this something we should start considering doing?

I haven't seen her cower when the other birds approach and we have made sure they have a dust bath area.

I did attempt to take photos but she's very flighty and it was way to hot for both of us to continue running around and around and around and around the coop....no picture

I thank you very much for your help. I hope to become as knowledgeable about chickens as you.

God Bless.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

No, artificial light makes things worse and is used only to keep production up during winter by some people since the laying hormone is effected by daylight hours. More light equals eggs more often, but will burn them out faster and could cause other issues.

Your birds don't eat at night when it's dark. If you could I would suggest collecting the feeders then. It will help to combat the rodents. And I also wouldn't feed the scratch like that. But maybe as a personal treat that they associate with you. You can use it to train them to come in at a certain time or just as plain good bonding. It's a lot of fun when a leghorn finally calms down enough to take something from your hand!

Oh, anytime we need to treat or something.. instead of chasing birds we wait until they go to roost. After they are calmed down we keep it dark and use a flashlight and remove one bird at a time. Head lamps are a great tool.

How do you dispose of your left over feed? Sounds expensive.

I have spent way too many hours researching and raising birds. But it's a form of therapy and exercise.

Thank you, God has richly blessed me!

May He richly bless you also.