help! my chickens are getting bald spots, and feathers looking very sorry for themselves. Please he

[Lacrystol]

they are in a run about 15' x 8' but they do have a good run in our garden (which is very large) most days. I have checked for mites, and cant see any but have treated with a natural powder just in case. I am wondering if they have eaten something now. Thanks for your reply

When I saw the pictures that was the first thing that came to mind, was they got a hold of something, because it's very odd that all three chickens have the same rash as the others. I would try putting something on the rash, I have read people using cortisone, perhaps a warm bath would help clear up the rash and then rub some cortisone on them.

 

[Lacrystol]

I would also keep them confined for a few days if they did eat something give it some time to pass there system...

 

[beaney1j]

Thanks again everyone, and I have kept them in for a few days now. No more potato peelings either. I will hopefully have some happier pics to post next time.

 

[Lacrystol]

Is there skin still irriating looking?

 

[Katie2]

morning, I was very interested to read all the replies to your original question. In April this year I took on four ex battery from a local egg producers farm. Three looked fairly good but one had quite a bit of feather loss and a red bald vent area, the feather loss has got worse and she now has red areas over most of her body. She is the only one I named, Blossom, as i hoped she would! they all get on well, eat well and produce lovely eggs and look very happy, I have checked for mites in the coop and done all the recommended things, mite powder, worming etc etc. they have a very large area of the garden to roam so I'm concerned why she doesn't improve like the other three. At the moment their bedding is wood shavings which I clean out regularly. Have your chickens improved?

 

[beaney1j]

Hello Katie. Sadly, no - my chickens did not improve much. We had tried various things, and nothing seems to have made any difference whatsoever. Like yours, they all seemed really happy and had a large area to run around. They also lay almost every day. I would have sworn that there was no pecking involved. However, my partner has been watching them very carefully and noticed one of them pecking at the other 3 a couple of weeks ago. They all have nice new feathers coming through, and then she is pulling them out. I reckon she is doing most of the damage in the coop in the morning before we let them out.

We bought an anti-pecking spray from Pets at Home, and it seems to be doing the trick. We have applied it once, and there are a couple of new feathers there and they havent been pulled out yet. Will apply again in next day or two. Warning though - it absolutely stinks, and stained my clothes. Fingers crossed!
I worry that they will be cold in the winter

I hope you get your girls sorted, and well done for adopting ex bats - bet they are loving their new home.

Janene

 

[smclean]

Rub down your nest boxes and perches with Nehm oil or olive oil.
This is an effective mite deterrent. Using sand in your coop floor and nesting boxes will kill mites also.Rub zinc oxide on the bald spits to help avoid pecking from friends and sunburn.