Feathers not growing back

[Ktewes]

I acquired this chicken and her friend in June. She was missing all her back feathers from being with a rooster. We only have her and her chicken friend. I know they won’t grow back these feathers until their regular molt but it looks like not much progress is happening. I switched her food to a 19% protein just a week ago. It’s almost December. Is she ever going to grow them back? She is a breed that is an egg producer and is still laying almost every day. She randomly has some blood feathers show up but just maybe one every so often. Nothing significant. Her name is Bare Betty because of the missing feathers but I was hoping ‘bare’ wasn’t going to be forever. Is there anything else I can do? Or just wait?

 

[DLA]

I acquired this chicken and her friend in June. She was missing all her back feathers from being with a rooster. We only have her and her chicken friend. I know they won’t grow back these feathers until their regular moult but it looks like not much progress is happening. I switched her food to a 19% protein just a week ago. It’s almost December. Is she ever going to grow them back? She is a breed that is an egg producer and is still laying almost every day. Her name is Bare Betty because of the missing feathers but I was hoping ‘bare’ wasn’t going to be forever. Is there anything else I can do? Or just wait?

She probably won't regrow them till she molts next time so the only thing you can do is maybe just get her a hen saddle to keep her back covered and warmer if you're in a cold area where that might be a concern. I would still keep giving her the 19% protein feed. If there's any pecking going on you can spray with blukote to discourage that. Sometimes with bare skin and damaged feathers other chickens or even the chicken themselves will peck at them.

 

[Ktewes]

She probably won't regrow them till she molts next time so the only thing you can do is maybe just get her a hen saddle to keep her back covered and warmer if you're in a cold area where that might be a concern. I would still keep giving her the 19% protein feed. If there's any pecking on you can spray with blukote to discourage that. Sometimes with bare skin and damaged feathers other chickens or even the chicken themselves will peck at them.

It could take a whole year? That’s crazy! Is a 19% feed going to mess with the other chicken that does not need to grow back feathers?

 

[DLA]

It could take a whole year? That’s crazy! Is a 19% feed going to mess with the other chicken that does not need to grow back feathers?

You never know when she might molt. Once a year is generally the rule but I've had ones molt at different times. It might not be a whole year. 19% is fine, especially if you're in an area that gets colder over winter.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Do you know how old she is?

 

[Ktewes]

Do you know how old she is?

I do not. But I think she is at least 1.5 years old, maybe close to 2.

 

[Ridgerunner]

If the entire feather is gone it should start growing back fairly soon. If just a tiny bit of shaft is still there it won't grow back until the molt. Just basic stuff to get out of the way.

Are you sure her buddy isn't plucking the feathers as they start back? From what I see I do not think that is happening but can't rule it out.

Where are you, north or south of the equator? At that age if you are north of the equator she should have molted. South of the equator, not yet. What generally causes the molt is the days getting shorter. What you feed her is not going to affect her molting. Molting is about the feathers falling out so they can regrow. Feed quality is not going to affect them falling out.

Do you have lights on that could be messing her up as far as the days getting shorter. That could be a security light or street light in the vicinity.

 

[Ktewes]

If the entire feather is gone it should start growing back fairly soon. If just a tiny bit of shaft is still there it won't grow back until the molt. Just basic stuff to get out of the way.

Are you sure her buddy isn't plucking the feathers as they start back? From what I see I do not think that is happening but can't rule it out.

Where are you, north or south of the equator? At that age if you are north of the equator she should have molted. South of the equator, not yet. What generally causes the molt is the days getting shorter. What you feed her is not going to affect her molting. Molting is about the feathers falling out so they can regrow. Feed quality is not going to affect them falling out.

Do you have lights on that could be messing her up as far as the days getting shorter. That could be a security light or street light in the vicinity.

It really doesn’t look like her friend is pulling any out. We live in the PNW so I would think that she would have started molting by now. It just looked the same since June.

 

[DLA]

It really doesn’t look like her friend is pulling any out. We live in the PNW so I would think that she would have started molting by now. It just looked the same since June.

I found this link on another post that @Eggcessive made for hen saddles. Might be helpful for your girl. http://www.linnacresfarm.com/2014/04/how-to-make-simple-hen-saddleapron.html

 

[EggSighted4Life]

It really doesn’t look like her friend is pulling any out. We live in the PNW so I would think that she would have started molting by now. It just looked the same since June.

For information and the purpose of sharing.. I'm also in the PNW (at the California/Oregon border).. and know the age of my gold sex link (which is what yours looks like) is 31 months old.. and has NOT had her first molt yet under natural lighting conditions with coop openings pointing north only exception being a small automated popdoor on the east side that allows access to a secure run, all situated under the shade of large Sitka Spruce and Coastal Redwoods. She's also still laying almost everyday. Her flock mates that are the same age but other breeds (EE and Rock) have had or are having their 2nd full molt including not laying.

Is a 19% feed going to mess with the other chicken that does not need to grow back feathers?

I feed 20% protein full time with oyster shell available free choice on the side.. none of my birds have ever had issues due to this and if anything they're better off than at lower protein (amino acid) contents.