Hen is missing a LOT of feathers but didn't molt. Can I do anything?

[mldoublee]

I received a Lavender Orpington hen late this summer from an acquaintance of mine. She had warned me the hen was not in the best feather shape because the rooster she had been with was quite overzealous. Ok...I have saddles, feathers grow back...etc. Well, it's now winter in Wisconsin and this poor girl did not molt during autumn. In addition to that, her bum underneath her vent is red and flaky though I see absolutely zero signs of mites.

Currently, I have her in the house because I'm worried she will get too cold outside in the Wisconsin winter temps. Her feathers are broken off at skin level, so the shafts are still in the skin. I'm assuming that is why her body has not grown them back -- because it doesn't "realize" they are gone.

I've been offering high protein snacks in addition to her feed. I have tried the Feather Fixer feed as well. Poultry Cell in her water, too.

I did worm her with Safeguard in case that was the cause of the flaky bum, but I've seen no evidence of dead worms in her poo. And her poo has been well formed...nothing strange there.

Does anyone have additional advice on how I can help her? Or is this basically a waiting game?

 

[Razzlefrazzle]

Poor girl! I think you'll probably have to keep her inside all winter.... Shorter days can trigger molting so if she's been hanging out with you in a lit up house you could try putting her to bed early (it has to be completely dark to work, so keep her in a separate room with no lights), but that's definitely not a sure thing.

Hard to see what's going on with her rear end from the pics but a warm epsom salt bath couldn't hurt. Also in my experience bare chicken skin can be very red and totally healthy/normal; their skin is quite thin and has a lot of blood vessels.

 

[ChickensAreSweeties]

I think she might have a yeast infection? I had a few hens with that once. We put anti-fungal cream on their bums.

 

[mldoublee]

Poor girl! I think you'll probably have to keep her inside all winter.... Shorter days can trigger molting so if she's been hanging out with you in a lit up house you could try putting her to bed early (it has to be completely dark to work, so keep her in a separate room with no lights), but that's definitely not a sure thing.

Hard to see what's going on with her rear end from the pics but a warm epsom salt bath couldn't hurt. Also in my experience bare chicken skin can be very red and totally healthy/normal; their skin is quite thin and has a lot of blood vessels.

She's only recently come inside, otherwise she was in the natural daylight. I do put her to bed early though, lol. Thanks for the tip!

I had also heard that the redness could just be from sun exposure since she's missing so many feathers. I'm definitely less concerned about that than I am about all her missing feathers, poor thing =(

 

[Eggcessive]

Do you know her exact age? If her feathers were worn down or picked, she may not grow them back until her first molt, which usually occurs around 14-18 months old. A homemade polar fleece saddle would probably protect her enough to go back into the flock. Have you looked her over for possible lice or mites? Has she fit in with your chickens already, or could they be pecking more feathers? It is usally good to quarantine a new chicken away from the flock for a month, but if she has already been with them, I would try to get her back with them. Here is an easy hen saddle idea for no sewing:
http://www.linnacresfarm.com/2014/04/how-to-make-simple-hen-saddleapron.html

 

[mldoublee]

Do you know her exact age? If her feathers were worn down or picked, she may not grow them back until her first molt, which usually occurs around 14-18 months old. A homemade polar fleece saddle would probably protect her enough to go back into the flock. Have you looked her over for possible lice or mites? Has she fit in with your chickens already, or could they be pecking more feathers? It is usally good to quarantine a new chicken away from the flock for a month, but if she has already been with them, I would try to get her back with them. Here is an easy hen saddle idea for no sewing:
http://www.linnacresfarm.com/2014/04/how-to-make-simple-hen-saddleapron.html

I don't know her exact age, no. I was told she molted in spring, which was before the current damage to her feathers occurred. So I suppose that would make sense as to why she did not molt this fall.

In my original post I believe I mentioned I did not see any evidence of mites. I haven't seen any other creepy crawlies on her either. She had been with the flock before and was kind of bossy and rude, lol. But the feather damage was this way before I got her. I brought her inside so I could keep a closer eye on her for a little while and make sure she was eating properly, pooping properly...etc.

Thank you for the link, I will check it out!

 

[Eggcessive]

Then it might be next spring for her to regrow new feathers.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Loss around vent is likely due to picking.

If she molted in spring, then probably won't molt and regrow feathers until spring again.

 

[mldoublee]

I wanted to update this post. She exploded in new pin feathers EVERYWHERE about 2 weeks ago. I had put her in the barn with a few other "nekkid" ladies because the temps were supposed to get very very low. I think the lower light and extra protein (I was giving them scrambled eggs every day) did the trick.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I wanted to update this post. She exploded in new pin feathers EVERYWHERE about 2 weeks ago. I had put her in the barn with a few other "nekkid" ladies because the temps were supposed to get very very low. I think the lower light and extra protein (I was giving them scrambled eggs every day) did the trick.

That's good news!
Thank you for the update.