I apologize for the long thread, but I’m going to try and give you all the information you might need in my search for assistance.
Approximately two weeks ago we started noticing some of our 11 hens were beginning to show feather loss just above their tail and up their back between their wings. Typical to what you would think a rooster would be doing. We have 11 hens and no roosters. One hen has gotten particularly bad over the last week and is now bald around her entire vent. We have placed a saddle on her to help mitigate further picking. We have been applying he heal and other anti-picking agents to the hens for the past two weeks with no relief.
While we are not 100% certain this is picking, we do have one hen who seems to have a flawless coat of feathers while all 10 others are in some degree of missing feathers above their tail or around their vents. We have watched the girls for quite some time and not seen any overly aggressive pecking during the day or well on roost.
Quick rundown
11 hens, two Olive Eggers, three black marans, three lavender Orpington’s, and three speckled Sussex.
Inside coop space where they roost is approximately 96 ft.² not including nesting boxes and elevated roosting bar. They have access to a fenced in exterior run that is 112 ft.² 24/7 unless it’s below zero wind chills (which it has been the last week here in northern IL). They also have access to an unsecured fenced in area that is approximately 50 x 30. And when we are home in the yard access to our entire half acre fenced in backyard.
Bedding is aspen shavings, deep bedding rotated every three days. They also have poop boards place beneath their roosting bars that are cleaned every other day.
We are feeding them a standard organic layer feed from tractor supply. They have access to additional oyster shelves and grit.
We treat with black soldier fly larva and or organic ancient grains, high protein scratch.
For nesting boxes. 24/7 water access. Flock block recently put in to help deter packing, as well as a period of other entertainment/swings ect.
We are trying to figure out what the best course of action is before we nix the one maran we believe to be the culprit. We are at our wits end and feel terrible for our girls. We have checked all vents/affected areas and see no signs of lice/other bugs ect.
Thank you for your help and any insight!
I have attached pictures of our coop set up and a couple of the girls I was able to get a quick photo of. If there’s any other information you need please let us know. Thank you again!
Approximately two weeks ago we started noticing some of our 11 hens were beginning to show feather loss just above their tail and up their back between their wings. Typical to what you would think a rooster would be doing. We have 11 hens and no roosters. One hen has gotten particularly bad over the last week and is now bald around her entire vent. We have placed a saddle on her to help mitigate further picking. We have been applying he heal and other anti-picking agents to the hens for the past two weeks with no relief.
While we are not 100% certain this is picking, we do have one hen who seems to have a flawless coat of feathers while all 10 others are in some degree of missing feathers above their tail or around their vents. We have watched the girls for quite some time and not seen any overly aggressive pecking during the day or well on roost.
Quick rundown
11 hens, two Olive Eggers, three black marans, three lavender Orpington’s, and three speckled Sussex.
Inside coop space where they roost is approximately 96 ft.² not including nesting boxes and elevated roosting bar. They have access to a fenced in exterior run that is 112 ft.² 24/7 unless it’s below zero wind chills (which it has been the last week here in northern IL). They also have access to an unsecured fenced in area that is approximately 50 x 30. And when we are home in the yard access to our entire half acre fenced in backyard.
Bedding is aspen shavings, deep bedding rotated every three days. They also have poop boards place beneath their roosting bars that are cleaned every other day.
We are feeding them a standard organic layer feed from tractor supply. They have access to additional oyster shelves and grit.
We treat with black soldier fly larva and or organic ancient grains, high protein scratch.
For nesting boxes. 24/7 water access. Flock block recently put in to help deter packing, as well as a period of other entertainment/swings ect.
We are trying to figure out what the best course of action is before we nix the one maran we believe to be the culprit. We are at our wits end and feel terrible for our girls. We have checked all vents/affected areas and see no signs of lice/other bugs ect.
Thank you for your help and any insight!
I have attached pictures of our coop set up and a couple of the girls I was able to get a quick photo of. If there’s any other information you need please let us know. Thank you again!
