Feather problems...or not???

[mags2009]

Hi, our girls all look very disheveled (sp?) I mean their feathers look awful right now. They are not close to their bodies, and are sticking out in places. Is this happening because they can't dust right now due to winter? Does anyone know anything about this? Help please!!

Thanks

Kerry

 

[LarryPQ]

Could they be moulting? You could probably find a litterbox or something and fill it with sand/DE/dirt.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Could they be molting? When they molt their feathers fall out, sometimes in weird places all at once. One of my hens will molt from the head down. She goes bald then the rest follows. Being disheveled can also indicate a health problem. Could they have worms, or mites, or lice? Check them over carefully for bugs. Maybe do a collective poo sample and ask a vet to run a fecal.

When chickens don't look quite right you want to take notice and do some investigating. Chickens are very good at hiding illnesses, due to the fact that they are prey animals. You don't want to show weakness when you could end up as someone's meal.

Until you can get a poo sample into a vet, try supplementing their food. This is helpful for molt or for illness. Give them some mashed hard boiled egg, hulled sunflower seeds, mealworms, even cat food is good (not too much on the cat food as it has too much salt for chickens). Vitamins can help, like Avia Charge 2000 (order from Strombergs online) or Polyvisol baby vitamins (without iron) which you can buy from most drug stores.

Hope this helps.

 

[patandchickens]

You should also check CLOSELY, on multiple birds, for any signs of mites or lice.

Good lcuk, have fun,

Pat

 

[mags2009]

can they get mites or lice in the winter? Also, could they be molting in Feb? I thought they did that in the fall. They won't be a year old until June 1. Thanks!

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Quote:
Yes, they can get mites or lice anytime of year, and they can molt anytime of year.