- Nov 26, 2011
- 57
- 2
- 48
I'll post a pic of this in the next day or two. It's too dark to go out and take one now. I have four hens in a 4x8 coop with a 10x 20 run. We had a problem with feather plucking, but I changed feeds and it seemed to have solved the problem. I also dusted for lice/mites with Sevin and did the coop and run at that time. I suspected an infestation, due to behaviors, but I never confirmed it. I thought it wouldn't hurt to treat for it any way. My two beta hens molted in February and my two more dominant hens have not had their first molt yet, so my fingers are crossed that this is the beginning of a molt. My second more dominant hen is a RR and is showing pale white feathers above her legs. She is laying normally and behaving normally. I haven't caught the feather plucker at work and she only plucked near the vents in the past. She also targeted less dominant hens. I haven't found any feathers in the coop or run. I don't believe this is an emergency, due to her behaviors, but I'm not sure what is causing this since I'm not finding feathers and egg production is normal.
Any one have any ideas? My current plan is to increase free ranging time, add apple cider vinegar to water and coat the nesting boxes and roost with DE. If it doesn't resolve (or turn into a molt) in the next two weeks, I'll treat with Sevin again, though I don't see evidence of mites or lice when I examine her visually. I don't want to worm them unless I'm confident that will help the issue because I've heard it can weaken the birds and I don't want to add stress to her until this is resolved. I may return to supplimenting with black oil sunflower seeds, but I'm not sure what else to try at this point. Aside from this issue, the rest of the flock appear healthy, active and normal. Any advice is appreciated. Keep your fingers crossed for me that this is just a molt!
Any one have any ideas? My current plan is to increase free ranging time, add apple cider vinegar to water and coat the nesting boxes and roost with DE. If it doesn't resolve (or turn into a molt) in the next two weeks, I'll treat with Sevin again, though I don't see evidence of mites or lice when I examine her visually. I don't want to worm them unless I'm confident that will help the issue because I've heard it can weaken the birds and I don't want to add stress to her until this is resolved. I may return to supplimenting with black oil sunflower seeds, but I'm not sure what else to try at this point. Aside from this issue, the rest of the flock appear healthy, active and normal. Any advice is appreciated. Keep your fingers crossed for me that this is just a molt!
Last edited:
