Neko's Yard
Chirping
The issue started in late winter - the first for me with chickens - when I switched foods to a more whole grain mix. Turns out, a few of my girls are picky eaters and were not getting enough protein, they started a pecking issue in my flock where everyone was pulling out feathers around and below everyone's vents. The food issue was fixed long ago, but feathers have not come back, and on half of them the exposed skin is patchy red and rough looking in some spots. One - the main pecker culprit - has no missing feathers. Everyone seems happy and energetic, laying plenty of eggs, the rest of their feathers look good, and rosy red combs most if the time. (Once in awhile one will look a little pale, but it never lasts more than a day.) They free range most of the day in my large backyard. I use the deep litter method and there is a shelf under the roost with Sweet PDZ. They have a dust bath with dirt/DE mix that they use all the time. I have sprayed with skin soother stuff, vetericyn, blu-kote, and applied pine tar, all of which has worn off in a day or two. I cannot find any evidence of mites in the coop or on the birds, other than the irritated butt skin on half of them. Is this just because the skin is exposed? Do feathers grow back during the year or only after molt? Am I being paranoid about mites or should I purge the coop?
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