gullybrush

[gullybrush]

A guy gave me 7 barred rock layers. When I got them home, I noticed that three of them had no feathers around the vent area and two had no feathers on their back just above the tail and the vent area, about a 2 to 3" diameter area. Of course, I isolated them from my own chickens, but am concerned. Doesn't look like molt. Do lice and/or worms cause this? Thanks for any info.

 

[MrsEskew]

It could be mites or lice...but I know that hens that are overbred by an aggressive or by multiple roosters have bare backs.

 

[MrsEskew]

You can feed them chick food and a can of cat food maybe once a week to boost their protein and help grow their feathers back. My hen that was given to me was missing feathers and that is what I did, after treating for external parasites. She is growing them back now. Just be sure they have oyster shells for calcium if they are already laying. Good luck with your chickens.