Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[bgmathteach]

Exactly. The thing I see is that you have enough experience to know this is something new and it could be something worrisome, but also that it might not be. A vet consult could be very helpful.

You know, what I wonder about is whether all the hormones, nutrition and whatnot that trigger and happen in molt, maybe hers are not up to snuff, and maybe she could use help in some way, something that you can give her that will help.

I tried a but of research, googling "poultry molt dysfunction" hoping to get a scientific discussion of problems encountered and not the general explanations of "why your chicken is molting." l got a few things but everything you'd /I'd want to read assumes more animal science knowledge than I have. One term I saw stuck out - "forced molt" - but I stopped before looking further. I wonder if that's something agribusiness does?

Yes, it is (forced molt) and it is now outlawed in much of Europe, but, sadly not here. Starve them for 2 weeks to cause a molt...so that they molt suddenly (i.e. fast) and everyone molts at once. I think it is utterly inhumane...but, clearly others don't.

 

[MaryJanet]

Yes, it is (forced molt) and it is now outlawed in much of Europe, but, sadly not here. Starve them for 2 weeks to cause a molt...so that they molt suddenly (i.e. fast) and everyone molts at once. I think it is utterly inhumane...but, clearly others don't.

And here's the rest of us almost poking food into our chickens to help them maintain optimum health through their moult.

The profit motive can be a very ugly force.

 

[Marie2020]

Thanks. I am pretty sure I know what to look for. I also have photos. I can tape test microscopic if I need to.

This is just proof of how we forget the "normal" things. While I was considering everything feather mites never occurred to me. Thanks so much for reminding me of a basic possible cause.

I dusted my girls today. Hopefully they will stop molting now

 

[Marie2020]

Yes, it is (forced molt) and it is now outlawed in much of Europe, but, sadly not here. Starve them for 2 weeks to cause a molt...so that they molt suddenly (i.e. fast) and everyone molts at once. I think it is utterly inhumane...but, clearly others don't.

They should be starved, see how they like it

 

[Shadrach]

Okay, I hate to alarm you, but all of her symptoms are the general signs of an external parasite infection, you can buy poultry dust, and other medications for this at your local feed store, try putting some garlic or garlic juice in her diet, try to catch her, put on some gloves, and go through her feathers, you might see some mites, and other parasites. Give her a warm bath in salt water and that may remove most of the parasites on her.

Please don't bath your chickens in water and if they are infested with mites please don't use poultry dust.

 

[Marie2020]

Ummmm… just popped in and did everyone see Phyllis in POW???

Where

 

[Shadrach]

Yes, it is (forced molt) and it is now outlawed in much of Europe, but, sadly not here. Starve them for 2 weeks to cause a molt...so that they molt suddenly (i.e. fast) and everyone molts at once. I think it is utterly inhumane...but, clearly others don't.

I believe it's illegal now here in the UK, but one of the consequences is that the hens are disposed of before thier first major moult at some batteries.

 

[micstrachan]

Where

On the home page.

 

[Shadrach]

This seems to be a legbar issue. Three out of four now have had their tail feathers pecked at until they bled. The overcrowding doesn't help and of course, the Ex Batts learn to eat feathers in the batteries. I've cleaned and sealed this one but every few days I'm seeing something like this on one or two of them.

 

[Shadrach]

Thanks for the chemical info @BY Bob. I had read a bit and the chemicals on their own are not supposed to be toxic at these percentages on their own.
I'm going to save the Net Tex for the coop. I've found this for the chickens which is just permethrin and a carrier.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lifesystem...A,B082JHQ124,B00AELWFFS,B07KK7XZYV,B07FS54PPV

Take note @Marie2020 before you buy some "natural" product or take advice from Facebook groups.
Permethrin still has the best knock down rate and least toxicity of any of the pesticides used on livestock.