How to care for suddenly quarentined chickens?

Kr1spy_dreamz

Songster
Aug 29, 2020
233
221
151
Las vegas, Nevada
I have 2 hens who look very unwell (lots of plucked feathers due to mating, we only have 1 rooster now). They haven't gotten better since, so im quarentining them until there plumage gets better.

Any way to calm them down during this procedure? They seem pretty upset (obviously).
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I have 2 hens who look very unwell (lots of plucked feathers due to mating, we only have 1 rooster now). They haven't gotten better since, so im quarentining them until there plumage gets better.

Any way to calm them down during this procedure? They seem pretty upset (obviously).

Are they eating/drinking/active/laying eggs?
How old are these Gals?
You mention they "look unwell" is that because of the feather damage due to mating?
Any "symptoms" like lethargy, not eating, etc.?

Birds that have feather damage due to mating or picking or whatever the cause generally will not feather back in until they molt. I see broken feathers, so that means feather shafts are intact in the skin - usually birds don't molt until Fall, but they can at other times depending on age, etc.

If they are acting fine, then I would not quarantine them just because the look bad - they will likely look that way for most of the year. Put them back with the other hens, watch behavior to see if they are getting picked on. Make sure you have plenty of space for them especially with a rooster. If the rooster is disrupting the hens, then pen him separately. He will be fine and if you are wanting fertile eggs, just put him with the hens for several days then take him back out.
 
Are they eating/drinking/active/laying eggs?
How old are these Gals?
You mention they "look unwell" is that because of the feather damage due to mating?
Any "symptoms" like lethargy, not eating, etc.?

Birds that have feather damage due to mating or picking or whatever the cause generally will not feather back in until they molt. I see broken feathers, so that means feather shafts are intact in the skin - usually birds don't molt until Fall, but they can at other times depending on age, etc.

If they are acting fine, then I would not quarantine them just because the look bad - they will likely look that way for most of the year. Put them back with the other hens, watch behavior to see if they are getting picked on. Make sure you have plenty of space for them especially with a rooster. If the rooster is disrupting the hens, then pen him separately. He will be fine and if you are wanting fertile eggs, just put him with the hens for several days then take him back out.
Answers to these questions: I say there unwell, but there quite healthy! Its the feather damage is the problem here due to mating. No symptoms.
Both lay eggs, the white hen is close to a year while the red hen is close to 2 years. Haven't seen any pecking from each other.

If thats the case, ill problably put them back out, although the roo seems to like the red hen a little too much. The hen would randomly do short clucks and try to run from the roo or just squat at his presence. It happens alteast once a day, its most likely normal but hey, not bad to ask why though right?
 
Answers to these questions: I say there unwell, but there quite healthy! Its the feather damage is the problem here due to mating. No symptoms.
Both lay eggs, the white hen is close to a year while the red hen is close to 2 years. Haven't seen any pecking from each other.

If thats the case, ill problably put them back out, although the roo seems to like the red hen a little too much. The hen would randomly do short clucks and try to run from the roo or just squat at his presence. It happens alteast once a day, its most likely normal but hey, not bad to ask why though right?
Have you tried a hen saddle? I had a hen last summer that had obviously become the rooster's favorite, and she quickly lost all the feathers on her back, just like your red girl. I didn't make note of how long it took, but after wearing the saddle just a short time, her feathers started regrowing, and came back in fully & beautifully. I left the saddle on at first, probably removing it once the feathers were past the pin stage. Haven't had a recurrence so far 🤞
 
Have you tried a hen saddle? I had a hen last summer that had obviously become the rooster's favorite, and she quickly lost all the feathers on her back, just like your red girl. I didn't make note of how long it took, but after wearing the saddle just a short time, her feathers started regrowing, and came back in fully & beautifully. I left the saddle on at first, probably removing it once the feathers were past the pin stage. Haven't had a recurrence so far 🤞
I never really thought of that to be honest. Ill problably try that!
 
Answers to these questions: I say there unwell, but there quite healthy! Its the feather damage is the problem here due to mating. No symptoms.
Both lay eggs, the white hen is close to a year while the red hen is close to 2 years. Haven't seen any pecking from each other.

If thats the case, ill problably put them back out, although the roo seems to like the red hen a little too much. The hen would randomly do short clucks and try to run from the roo or just squat at his presence. It happens alteast once a day, its most likely normal but hey, not bad to ask why though right?
If the rooster is mating her once a day that would be normal. Sometimes a rooster can pick at a hen or repeated mate her to the point of her not eating/drinking well.
Take time to observe flock behavior.
 

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