My chickens started molting last spring. They are still bare (most are bare right above and below the tail)-at least most of them and winter is coming (I live in the southern Rockies). Some have (finally!) started growing feathers but most have not. I researched and have done the following things to encourage growth. 1. used sevendust, baby powder and d.e. to kill mites (never saw evidence of them-the feed store owner said they are so small you can't even see them) 2. increased protein by feeding them flock raiser instead of layer pellets. Their egg production has remained strong throughout the summer and they seem like a happy and healthy although they LOOK terrible. I do allow them to free range a few hours in the evening before dusk as long as I am home (we have foxes in the meadow and the farm a mile away lost their entire flock in one afternoon to foxes) and they have a very large fenced in chicken yard to roam in the rest of the time. I have come to the conclusion that they are pecking each others feathers out. I've read that I can use blue kote or some kind of pine substance to discourage pecking and biting. Any ideas???
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