Help! Chickens with naked necks! And it's not their breed....

[PunkinPeep]

I have a friend who raises the same chickens i do - dual purpose breeds - white rocks - easter eggers - whathaveyou.....

But for several generations now, her chickens all end up with naked necks - completely featherless all the way around the neck. All of them.

It seems like i have read about something similar to this before, but i can't seem to find it now. And i'm sorry, but i don't have pictures.

Can you help me discover what's going on with her flock?

She seems to view it as normal, but i know it isn't, and i would like to be able to pass some good information on to her to let her know what is probably wrong and what she can do to stop this from happening.

Thanks for all your help!

 

[chicmom]

Hello,

Do they hatch that way, or is it a gradual thing that happens with her flock? She may have parasites, or ask her if one of the chickens looks normal, while the others have the bare necks....That would mean she has a feather plucker. Or her chickens could be over-crowded and they may all be plucking eachother. Crowded chickens are unhappy chickens.

Now, if they're eating their own feathers, that could mean they need more protein in their diets. What is she feeding them?

 

[the chickflick]

does this happen once a year? could be a moult. and maybe they dont grow back their feathers because they dont have enough protien like the other guy said

 

[PunkinPeep]

They aren't hatched that way. It gradually happens to every chicken she adds to her flock. What kind of parasite would have that effect?

 

[Mei&Popcorn]

An external parasite like mites or lice might make them over preen, causing feathers to come out...

 

[the chickflick]

and if these feathers never grow back... well then she isnt feeding them right

 

[PunkinPeep]

So y'all think maybe it could be a combination of poor nutrition and parasites?

 

[the chickflick]

most likely yeah. cuz the feathers only grow back if there is enough protien for them to grow. check under the wings and in between the feathers especially the neck feathers for little bugs. then it is paristites.

 

[Mei&Popcorn]

most likely yeah. cuz the feathers only grow back if there is enough protien for them to grow. check under the wings and in between the feathers especially the neck feathers for little bugs. then it is paristites.

Oh, check around the vent area too, parasites tend to like warm areas

 

[tazatwar]

Hi punkin i wanted to ask you about teh auto waterer you made .... i cant find taht float for the water . Also the same size pipe ..would you pl's tell me where i can pick one up Th'x God Bless