Hens loosing feathers on their backs but no rooster....

[aliciaford]

First one hen, now more hens losing the feathers on their backs, much like the rooster was getting "friendly" too often. It has gotten so bad that I found another home for my rooster. He has been gone over a month and no feathers are growing back? Do you think they are molting? I have been ruling that out due to lack of new feather growth. My husband is convinced that they have some sort of disease, but everthing else is normal, I cant even find a mite.... HELP!

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

I'm not sure....

 

[Uppity Peon]

I would pull up a chair and watch them for a good hour or two. You may be able to identify one bully hen. While you are at it, pick them up and examine them closely for parasites and other problems.

 

[Katy]

Depending on where they are on their"feather cycle" they may not get any new ones until they go thru a molt.

 

[ranchhand]

They may be pecking each other, Uppity Peon has a good idea. So does Katy.

I type to slowly!

 

[Country4ever]

Seems like once feathers are gone, it just is too tempting for even hens to not peck at them coming in. You might try putting some Vicks Vapo rub on the area. They don't like the smell of that and usually leave it alone.
I have a hen at the bottom of the pecking order and her butt as been bare for years.
Also.......my black australorps start moulting this time of year, and it usually starts in that back area first.

 

[Glenda L Heywood]

what is the bases of their feed diet?
do you put 2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar to gallon of water daily?

here is the information on lack of vitamins and minerals
As indicated vitamin and mineral deficiencies can produce numerous health problems for chickens including in some cases, death. Thus, to prevent nutritional deficiencies, or when deficiency symptoms are noted, feeding a balanced poultry diet with the required vitamins and minerals should be practised.
uld note that lack of feather growth is due to lack of


It says for feathers not coming in
it is deficient in folic acid and zinc


Here is some information on the use of vit's and mineral's in breeders
as thus not having them adaquetly in the feed when layers or roosters are mating and laying eggs causes the problems with feathers and growth in the chicks

(1) Folic Acid Poor growth, anaemia, poor feathering and egg production

(2) Zinc Poor feathering, short bones
So I would advise you giving a 1/2 tablet of these two vit's and minerals

twice a week in a
wet mash probiotic

FOR ONE CHICKEN
3 tbsp of dry crumble feed
4 tbsp of milk
1 tbsp of yoguart
AFTER MIXING IN THE VITAMINS PUT APPLESAUCE ON LAST


VITAMINS
and 1/2 crushed tablet of zinc and folic acid AND 1-1000 MG OF vIT E cut tip off capsule and squeeze the insides into the wet mash
multiply the amt of vit's times the amt of hens fed this
feed this daily for a week
then once a week for some time to see if the feathers start to grow out

and see how the chickenS do
any other questions email me
Glenda L Heywood

FROM


Vitamins and Minerals Important to Poultry - Poultry Articles from ... Vitamins and minerals are very important components of a chickens diet and unless a ... Vitamin A, Decreased egg production, weakness and lack of growth ...
www.thepoultrysite.com/.../vitamins-and-minerals-important-to-poultry - Cached - Similar


Vitamins and Minerals Important to Poultry
Achieving maximum health and performance of poultry requires nutritionally balanced diets, writes Dan L. Cunningham, Extension Coordinator at the University of Georgia.



One of the common issues with regard to backyard flocks relates to poor or inadequate feeding programmes that can lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies for the birds. Vitamins and minerals are very important components of a chickens diet and unless a formulated ration is feed, it is likely that deficiencies will occur.

Poultry require all known vitamins except C. Some vitamins are soluble in fats, while others are soluble in water. Some of the symptoms of a vitamin deficiency are as follows:

Fat Soluble Vitamins
Vitamin A Decreased egg production, weakness and lack of growth
Vitamin D Thin shelled eggs, reduced egg production, retarded growth, rickets
Vitamin E Enlarged hocks, encephalomalacia (crazy chick disease)
Vitamin K Prolonged blood clotting, intramuscular bleeding



Water Soluble Vitamins
Thiamine (B1) Loss of appetite and death
Riboflavin (B2) Curly-toe paralysis, poor growth and poor egg production
Pantothenic Acid Dermatitis and lesions on mouth and feet
Niacin Bowed legs, inflammation of tongue and mouth cavity
Choline Poor growth, fatty liver, decreased egg production
Vitamin B12 Anaemia, poor growth, embryonic mortality
Folic Acid Poor growth, anaemia, poor feathering and egg production
Biotin Dermatitis on feet and around eyes and beak

Minerals are also important to the health and well-being of poultry. The following are some of the important minerals and symptoms of mineral deficiencies:

Minerals
Calcium Poor egg shell quality and poor hatchability, rickets
Phosphorus Rickets, poor egg shell quality and hatchability
Magnesium Sudden death
Manganese Perosis, poor hatchability
Iron Anaemia
Copper Anaemia
Iodine Goitre
Zinc Poor feathering, short bones
Cobalt Slow growth, mortality, reduced hatchability

As indicated above, vitamin and mineral deficiencies can produce numerous health problems for chickens including in some cases, death. Thus, to prevent nutritional deficiencies, or when deficiency symptoms are noted, feeding a balanced poultry diet with the required vitamins and minerals should be practised.
uld note that lack of feather growth is due to lack of