Flock health

[amandaandrews2017]

My flock looks horrible. Mostly feathers missing on most girls. Got ride of my rooster thinking he was the problem but it seems to be getting worse. Any ideas.

 

[DobieLover]

My flock looks horrible. Mostly feathers missing on most girls. Got ride of my rooster thinking he was the problem but it seems to be getting worse. Any ideas.

Can you post some pictures of your birds? How many birds, how much space do they have available to them during the day in square feet, and what exactly are you feeding them? How old are they?

 

[3KillerBs]

In addition to the above, have you inspected them for mites and/or lice?

Here is a useful article: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-fleas-dealing-with-external-parasites.74599/

 

[amandaandrews2017]

Can you post some pictures of your birds? How many birds, how much space do they have available to them during the day in square feet, and what exactly are you feeding them? How old are they?

 

[amandaandrews2017]

I did check for mites. I didn't see any. They are 1 year old. I have 10 chickens. Trash can gravity feeder with egg layer crumble purina. They have about 400 square ft of space. They have been eating the eggs.

 

[DobieLover]

They are still sporting rooster damage. That won't go away until they molt this fall.
If they are egg eating, they may also be feather picking. Keep them on a high quality feed with 18-20% protein year round with oyster shell in a separate container on the side and wait until fall. If their backs look like they are getting burned you may want to put saddles on them.
Remove the eggs multiple times a day and put a couple ceramic eggs in each of the nest boxes. To get them the protein boost they need now, feed them a tin of sardines or a can of tuna twice a week.
Can you add some wood chips to the run for litter? Some places offer it for free in areas where curbside collection of branches is done by the county. Also add lots of things to fly up on, dig around and perch on in the run. The more cluttered, the better.

 

[amandaandrews2017]

They are still sporting rooster damage. That won't go away until they molt this fall.
If they are egg eating, they may also be feather picking. Keep them on a high quality feed with 18-20% protein year round with oyster shell in a separate container on the side and wait until fall. If their backs look like they are getting burned you may want to put saddles on them.
Remove the eggs multiple times a day and put a couple ceramic eggs in each of the nest boxes. To get them the protein boost they need now, feed them a tin of sardines or a can of tuna twice a week.
Can you add some wood chips to the run for litter? Some places offer it for free in areas where curbside collection of branches is done by the county. Also add lots of things to fly up on, dig around and perch on in the run. The more cluttered, the better.

Thank you so much!!