Meyer Hatchery Chicken pics anyone??

[christine9]

I've been pm'ing someone about my hens conditions and so far she thinks... some picking going on that's why the 2 are losing head feathers, the bellies are bare (on 3) because of picking them out themselves when they lay an egg and my BR's is red because of irritation from the roost since there's no feathers to keep it protected. I do think that's all possible. But my egg production is kinda low 4-6 eggs from 10 girls, but one is broody and I swear my one BA doesn't lay at all! So 4-6 from 8 layers? Maybe that's right? Anyway.. the worst one is Moe (cochin) and I just sent these pics of her back... see how the feather shaft is bare then plume on the ends? And tons of broken feathers everywhere even her feet. belly below: a few others... Any thoughts????

It's hard to tell if the damage is residual or new. Those feathers won't look better until they are replaced. However, I'd think you would notice an improvement on the belly by now. It does seem like the person you've been speaking to makes sense. There must be some picking if head feathers are missing. Have you tried the poultry protector? I sprayed everywhere in my coop and the girls with it when I saw mites crawling on the coop. It's a natural product that uses enzymes. I only sprayed once, but haven't seen anything or symptoms of anything since. I still think it HAS to be some kind of bug. I don't believe it's an issue with your feed. Oh and if you had sand fleas, you would see them trying to bite you too. I have experienced them (thankfully not in my coop). I am also a big fan of a sandbox coop.I can see how picking would lower your egg production just because of the stress factor. I really hope we work this out soon.

 

[christine9]

According to "chicken health for dummies"

It also says feeding a mash diet may help if it's a boredom issue. And that supplemental foods are good to keep them occupied.

 

[MamaShell]

That's great!!! Love the pics. I'm so bad. I had tons of my first group of chicks and not many of my 2nd. I gotta get better. So pretty!! How bout BL short for black licorice. or Mr. Coffee? I like pepper too though. I'd end up calling him peppy for short though. Any news yet?? Adorable and great breeds. Yup, a SF is on my list too!! You guys are so funny!!! I think I'd be doing the same thing for blue eggs. I've been pm'ing someone about my hens conditions and so far she thinks... some picking going on that's why the 2 are losing head feathers, the bellies are bare (on 3) because of picking them out themselves when they lay an egg and my BR's is red because of irritation from the roost since there's no feathers to keep it protected. I do think that's all possible. But my egg production is kinda low 4-6 eggs from 10 girls, but one is broody and I swear my one BA doesn't lay at all! So 4-6 from 8 layers? Maybe that's right? Anyway.. the worst one is Moe (cochin) and I just sent these pics of her back... see how the feather shaft is bare then plume on the ends? And tons of broken feathers everywhere even her feet. belly below: a few others... Any thoughts????

I have lost track of time. How long has it been since this started? Could she just be molting? I don't think it's the sand. If it was, it would have been an issue last summer and not have started in the colder months. Hopefully, it's like waiting for a kettle to boil. She might be healing, just not fast enough for you because you feel so bad for her. If I remember correctly, she was not the only one losing feathers. Have the others gotten better? On a lighter note, do your girls pour out of the coop when you open the door in the morning? Free at last . . .

I just love that! My dogs have yet to get used to the chickens. They circle the pen trying to find a way in. Here, "Bear" is about to lose a staring contest with Sugaree.

If only they would stop barking at the chicks! I think the neighbors would rather hear a rooster crow!

 

[MamaShell]

Sorry, just re-read your post about the others. Still, have they gotten better or worse over time? I would think if you had some sort of infestation, all of your birds would show signs, not just a few. It's a mystery.

 

[Firbrd]

On a lighter note, do your girls pour out of the coop when you open the door in the morning?

This is pretty much what it looks like here every morning, they wait by the door for me to let them out. Our little Doxie likes to circle the run too. Now if I can just get them all back in at the same time in the evening. What time do you guys lock up for the evening? We have been going out 7:30 - 8. Some will already be perched and some still out pecking around.

Free at last . . .

I just love that!

My dogs have yet to get used to the chickens. They circle the pen trying to find a way in. Here, "Bear" is about to lose a staring contest with Sugaree.

If only they would stop barking at the chicks! I think the neighbors would rather hear a rooster crow![/quote]

 

[Firbrd]

Wow I really messed that quote up. I'll blame my phone. Lol

 

[rnchick74]

Here are my Silkie babies today!

 

[NotableNancy]

Nancy- maybe she just needs more time for the feathers to grow back?
Have you thought about trying to switch to deep litter instead of sand in the coop?

I am on my tablet and the reply function does not work too well. Also Nancy, she looks good otherwise and I can see the new feather shafts coming in on the pictures. She probably won't lay any eggs for awhile since she needs that protein for those feathers coming in. Some chickens just have an ugly and long molt. My BR Pepper sure did. I've also heard the DL method helps with everything, so that's why I mentioned it.

I broke something today too. My broody is finally broken. Took 4 nights in the broody breaker.

Unfortunately I don't think it's molting. It's been going on for so long and is getting worse not better. Some may be to plucking them out herself and that's why it's worse but the confusing part is how the feathers are only half covered with the fluff. The parts that look like new feather shafts are actually broken off feathers. I thought when there's a feather plucker they pluck out the whole thing... do they bite them off?? I am actually looking forward to her molting because we'll see what happens then. And the other thing I was thinking is now that she's broody, and seriously broody not like last summer, I wonder if she must be not that bad off health wise because I wouldn't think she'd be broody if she wasn't all that healthy? Just a thought.

Nancy - I do have a thought about your hen with the feathers...

So you have sand in your run? What kind of sand? There is something called sand fleas. I've heard of them being passed through construction sand, etc - even the kinds that have been washed. Are there are bite marks on her? They would look like normal flea like marks - red, raised bumps. It might be hard to see them on a chicken though, since the "bite" may look like an irritated feather shaft/pore. It might be worth doing some treatments with poultry protector or DE.

Of course, I might be completely off base.

Never thought about that but there's no bumps or bite marks and have never ever seen a bug on any of them.

It's hard to tell if the damage is residual or new. Those feathers won't look better until they are replaced. However, I'd think you would notice an improvement on the belly by now. It does seem like the person you've been speaking to makes sense. There must be some picking if head feathers are missing.
Have you tried the poultry protector? I sprayed everywhere in my coop and the girls with it when I saw mites crawling on the coop. It's a natural product that uses enzymes. I only sprayed once, but haven't seen anything or symptoms of anything since. I still think it HAS to be some kind of bug. I don't believe it's an issue with your feed. Oh and if you had sand fleas, you would see them trying to bite you too. I have experienced them (thankfully not in my coop). I am also a big fan of a sandbox coop.I can see how picking would lower your egg production just because of the stress factor. I really hope we work this out soon.

I was going to buy the poultry protector yesterday but then put it back. Do you spray the birds too or just the coop? I keep thinking some kind of invisible bug too but then again it is only affecting her this badly. 2 others have the bare belly but not the broken feathers everywhere or bare spot on the back. So maybe it's a problem absorbing vitamins from the feed?
So here's my plan...
I'm going to add probiotics daily to their water (I was only doing it sporadically) and vitamins once in a while, maybe 2x week. I have Eprinex so I'm going to put the drops on the back of Moe's neck. I have a saddle cover for her so after I break her broodiness I'll put that on her. And I'm going to put a towel on the roosts to make it a bit softer on their bellies.

According to "chicken health for dummies"

It also says feeding a mash diet may help if it's a boredom issue. And that supplemental foods are good to keep them occupied.

Thanks!! by mash do they mean just the really fine food or wetting it? I do give them wet 'mash' almost every day and maybe i'll make a flock block for them.

I have lost track of time. How long has it been since this started? Could she just be molting? I don't think it's the sand. If it was, it would have been an issue last summer and not have started in the colder months. Hopefully, it's like waiting for a kettle to boil. She might be healing, just not fast enough for you because you feel so bad for her. If I remember correctly, she was not the only one losing feathers. Have the others gotten better?

On a lighter note, do your girls pour out of the coop when you open the door in the morning?

Free at last . . .




I just love that!

My dogs have yet to get used to the chickens. They circle the pen trying to find a way in. Here, "Bear" is about to lose a staring contest with Sugaree.



If only they would stop barking at the chicks! I think the neighbors would rather hear a rooster crow!

Great pics!!!! I bet they're so happy when that door opens!

Sorry, just re-read your post about the others. Still, have they gotten better or worse over time? I would think if you had some sort of infestation, all of your birds would show signs, not just a few. It's a mystery.

I agree, if an infestation they all would be getting it I guess. There's so much room now on the roosts now that 3 hens are gone they really don't touch each other that much and some parasites are passed by touching each other. Oh, who the heck knows. As far as getting better or worse... Moe is getting worse, the losing head feathers is getting worse and the belly feather loss is about the same and no new ones are getting it. So that makes me think they're doing the belly feather picking themselves when they are laying an egg.

Here are my Silkie babies today!

Oh goodness... how precious!!! Did you name them yet?

 

[rnchick74]

We haven't named them yet...kind of hard since we don't know the sex! Also, that pic shows the 1 as almost white! That is artifact from the flash & light. They are both buff.

I think my son wants the names to be:
Brownie


and :
Cocoa (or if it turns out to be a girl...Coco as in Chanel)

 

[NotableNancy]

Here's some new baby pics... 5 1/2 weeks old...

Patty Patty the white Silkie


Zsa Zsa and Eva



I like showing the baby EE's and the progress pics...
so Lola on the left and Lilly on the right (3 days old)


Here's Lola:


and Lilly on the right... a CCL on the left


I can't figure out Lilly's coloring yet... her back looks like she may be getting some blue in it?
I know Lola's coloring is pretty typical of EE's but I never had one like her... did anyone else have a chick that looked like her and pics of what they look like now? I would love a buff looking one... maybe??
Lola is still the most daring and my friendliest.