Help my White Star

[maggie1979]

I have a white star hen who looks very unkempt compared to the other hens (speckledy bluebell and black rock). Her tail feathers have been stripped almost bare, and she is thin in her plumage around her chest and shoulders, and her underside is red and bald. At the base of her tail feathers (head end not bottom end) she is bare and red.
She has looked like this for quite a long time now, while the other hens look pretty good (currently dealing with red mite infestation though). Her appetite is good and her energy levels and egg production hasn't changed.
She is bottom of the pecking order,
How can I return her back to her good looks and healthy plumage?

 

[sourland]

It is possible that the other hens are feather plucking/eating giving her the ragged appearance. Do an on site search on Pin Less Peepers. They work and can frequently be removed after the 'picked upon' birds have regrown their feathers.

 

[maggie1979]

I gave her a thorough inspection today - wings are half bare / stripped and more damaged feathers than I'd thought on her body. Then watched them at feeding time and the 2 dominant hens really having a good peck at her.
So I've taken her out of the enclosure and she gets to free range and live in the shed for a week or two until she's had a chance to recover a bit.
Don't know much about these pin less peepers but have read a couple of threads.

 

[MrsBrooke]

I'd leave her in the flock and remove the bullies. Put them in individual crates in the garage or shed with their own food and water for about a week.

A time out can do wonders for a chicken's disposition.

MrsB

 

[maggie1979]

I wondered about doing that. I only have 4 hens, 2 seem to be very dominant but the third gave my white star a good peck when I separated them and fed them some mealworms. So do I isolate all 3? Or just the main 2? Is one night out of the flock going to cause problems if I put her back in?

 

[maggie1979]

 

[MrsBrooke]

Poor little mama.

One night couldn't make it any worse!!

Are they all WS or do you have a mixed flock? I'd separate the worst offenders and put them in solitary for a week. It will force the pecking order to reset itself.

If they are *still* mean, I'd definitely check out the Pinless Peepers mentioned above.

If all else fails, consider chicken soup. Mean chickens are tasty!

MrsB

 

[maggie1979]

I want to give her a chance to heal up a bit but then I'll remove the bullies and put her back in, then reintroduce them after a few days. If I out them in a dog cage, I should still let them roam free but seperately from the others?

 

[MrsBrooke]

Yes. Reintroduce them with a period of see-no-touch separation... It'll help them adjust, and you can monitor their progress.

As for your poor little mama, put some Neosporin on her and treat her with things high in protein like meal worms or crushed up boiled eggs.

MrsB

 

[maggie1979]

We have just read up on stuff and realised she might be protein and sodium deficient - her preening gland is very red (I'd always thought it was a snapped off ingrowing feather!). What extra should I feed her? I have layers pellets, grit, corn and dried mealworms and she roams free in the garden.