Is this molting?

[Michael Propst]

This is my first year with my girls. They are currently 10 months old. My Buff Orpington (Omelette) started molting in early December, it was not very severe she dropped her tail feathers and a good amount of feathers around her neck. I noticed last week one of my Barred Plymouth Rocks (Rorschach) was dropping feathers and assumed she was starting a molt as well. I have been observing them and she would have some feathers fly out when she fluffed herself. I normally give my girls a good look over a couple times a week. On Friday when looking over Rorschach I notice the feather missing from inside her wings and almost bare around her vent. I got concerned for mites and as a precaution yesterday sprayed her with Manna Pro Poultry Protector. I observe my girls alot and with the exception of the occasion peck when there are several going after food they get along great and I have seen no bullying. I know from reading all birds molt differently and since mine are less than a year I don't expect consistency but with the amount of feather missing from her vent area I got concerned. I am including some pictures and would love to hear thoughts on what I have going on here. The reason she is so wet is I had just sprayed her withe the Manna Poultry Protector prior to taking the pictures. Thanks in advance to all that can provide some expert knowledge on this.

 

[FishMtFarm]

Judging by all the poo in her feathers, I would say it's not molting. I would clean her but up a bit and make sure she doesn't have any white ickies coming out of her vent. I know they can get some sort of infection in and around their vent. I think it's called gleet vent or something.

 

[Michael Propst]

I know they can get some sort of infection in and around their vent. I think it's called gleet vent or something.

I have had a hen before with Vent Gleet and this is not that. The poo that was there was just some hard crusty poo that was stuck to her feathers. The spray loosened it up. I did clean her the rest of the way up after taking the pictures.

 

[FishMtFarm]

Oh ok, I haven't ever seen vent gleet so wasn't sure. Did you check for mites? I have a couple hens with bare bottoms that were in molt but they lost feathers all over, not just on their bum. Maybe it is a molt. Be curious to see what others have to say.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi

What height are your roost bars. Feather picking of the vent area can occur at roost time when they are arguing over roost places. If the roost bar(s) are low and chickens can peck from below, the vent is the easy target area as the chicken being targeted cannot fend them off..... so that is one option.

Their feathers also look a bit soiled and their lower vent area a little swollen.... it may be an optical illusion. What do you feed them? It is unfortunately more common that you would think for obesity in chickens to occur and lead to health problems including swollen and bald abdomens as one of the more minor concerns. It is much more difficult to tell if a chicken is obese because of their feathers and we all love to feed them treats, so it is very easy to happen without us being aware of it or the risks. Obese chickens often soil themselves because their vent no longer has clearance for poop to drop free of the feathers below. The chickens preen the feathers to remove the poop but it can result in preening out their own feathers as poop sticks like concrete. There can be a number of other reasons for this happening but if all 3 chickens are exhibiting the same symptom, then it is more likely to be dietary. Please don't take offence at this suggestion, it is just another possible option.

Lice is another possibility which you have covered by spraying them. In my experience it is rare for them to preen out a bald patch due to lice but time will tell if your treatment has been successful. I hope you are not in a cold winter climate as spraying birds in winter is not generally a good plan. There are poultry dusts that are more suitable for winter use.

 

[Michael Propst]

Did you check for mites?

I looked for mites and could not see any obvious signs from pictures I have Googled as a reference. The skin everywhere is clear and clean. From my reading and research here most girls under a year old typically don't have a full blown molt. My Buff only lost her tail feathers and feathers around her neck. So with this girl I was originally assuming it was also a partial or mini molt but was a bit concerned about the bare bottom.

 

[rebrascora]

I misunderstood slightly and it is just one girl that is suffering this.... I assumed you had 3 barred rocks that were all in the same situation. Partial moults are most common in the neck chest area and less so around the vent. I wouldn't rule it out as an option but combined with the soiled feathers I would say it is more likely that something else is going on.

 

[Michael Propst]

Feather picking of the vent area can occur at roost time when they are arguing over roost places. If the roost bar(s) are low and chickens can peck from below, the vent is the easy target area as the chicken being targeted cannot fend them off.....

Actually at the moment my roost bars are only about 4" above the bedding. The coop I am using I inherited with the chickens when my neighbors moved and is way to small only 4x4 for 6 hens, however I do have a total of 8 feet of 2x4 roost bars for them so there is plenty of room. I am process of building a 4x11 coop that will replace my current one in the spring. I have noticed more feather from her in the run area and not so much in the coop, so I am hoping I can rule that possibility out. I have also been in there in the evening when they go to roost and have not heard any conflict in the coop.

What do you feed them?

First of all I never take offense to any suggestions or possible solutions that are presented here. I am still in my first year with chickens and seem to be learning everyday. To be honest until early December their diet wasn't the best. I thought I was doing the right thing but after losing a girl to fatty liver syndrome I realized by discussions I posted here, talking to my vet, and working with my feed company that I was offering way to many treats. So for the past 6 weeks I have been very strict with their diet. All of my feed comes from Scratch and Peck. I have actually reached out to them and they have worked with me very well on a stable diet so since early December this is what they are getting and this is for feeding 6 hens.

I have a gravity feeder that I have NATURALLY FREE ORGANIC LAYER Feed mixed with CLUCKIN’ GOOD ORGANIC HERBS (I blend this with their dry feed according to Scratch and Pecks recommendations on the package). I do added 2 tablespoons of Bragg's ACV per gallon to their water.

Mornings

• 2 cups fermented NATURALLY FREE ORGANIC LAYER Feed (I am adding 5% CLUCKIN’ GOOD ORGANIC CRACKED CORN for the winter months)

Evenings

• They get a cup of Sprouted Grains. An equal mixture of the following. I also sprinkle them with the Scratch and Peck Herb Blend and a little Cayenne Pepper
  • CLUCKIN’ GOOD ORGANIC WHOLE OATS
  • CLUCKIN’ GOOD ORGANIC WHOLE OR CRACKED PEAS
  • CLUCKIN’ GOOD ORGANIC WHOLE BARLEY
  • CLUCKIN’ GOOD ORGANIC WHOLE WHEAT

Treats have been reduced to a minimum

• 3/4 - 1 cup max daily of CLUCKIN’ GOOD GRUBS
• I make homemade treat blocks they get 1 a week and it is small just 2"x4" and it is placed in a suet cage
• Once a week they get a teaspoon each of organic yogurt

I like to let them free range the backyard as much as possible but with the winter weather we have had here in Kansas this year they have only been out 4 times in the past 3 weeks. So I have been mixing about 1/8 cup of scratch into the straw in their run to keep them occupied.

I have worked directly with Scratch and Peck on the current diet.

I hope you are not in a cold winter climate as spraying birds in winter is not generally a good plan. There are poultry dusts that are more suitable for winter use.

I am in a cold climate this time of year but we are having an unusual warm spell in the 50's yesterday and today so I was not concerned about using the spray.

 

[Michael Propst]

I misunderstood slightly and it is just one girl that is suffering this.... I assumed you had 3 barred rocks that were all in the same situation. Partial moults are most common in the neck chest area and less so around the vent. I wouldn't rule it out as an option but combined with the soiled feathers I would say it is more likely that something else is going on.

I have noticed when she fluffs her feathers that I will see feather come out of her back and sides as well. I am not sure if I should be real concerned over the soiled feathers. Until I sprayed her this was just a little dried poo that loosened after I sprayed her. I guess it is possible that there was more dried that she did try preening out and ended up pulling her feathers out. I have noticed from time to time I will have a hen with a little dried poo in her butt feathers. I usually just pick her up an clean her off. From reading your assessment it sounds like I need to be a bit more concerned about dried poo in the butt feathers.

 

[rebrascora]

I appreciate that you have been working with Scratch and Peck as regards their diet but if the above is what you are feeding 6 hens hen then in my opinion you are...
a) significantly over complicating things and would be far better off feeding them a layer or flock raiser pellet
and
b) you are still giving them far too many treats.

It also concerns me that you are not getting independent nutritional advice, since all these products are made by Scratch and Peck and they must be making an absolute fortune out of you!! I have concerns about mixed grain products like Scratch and Peck Layer Feed alone without all the added extras. It makes me wonder if you have been speaking to a nutritionist or a sales rep! I have commented recently on quite a few threads where birds on a similar mixed grain feed have suffered prolapse and other serious ailments and I genuinely believe their diet is the issue

I accept that I am no expert on poultry nutrition but I am genuinely concerned that this diet is way too high in grains and in my opinion probably unhealthy for your birds. I am sorry that you have already lost one but I foresee others experiencing similar problems on this diet. I do not have time to break down my specific concerns right now and will be interested to see if others share my concerns. I have a necropsy photo of a bird that had been given a diet too high in grains that I can share with you if you are not squeamish. She belonged to a neighbour and suffered ascites and sadly ruptured and died. I butchered his other 4 birds for him as well which had been fed the same diet to this one and were similarly packed with thick yellow fat. None of them laid very well which is hardly surprising!