Minnesota!

[Chickenchick11]

I thought the same thing, Ralphie!  No way I am pour perfectly good beer on ANY part of my chickens unless they are in a pot getting cooked!

LOL! I guess I should of specified what Corona.

 

[duluthralphie]

2 of mine Molted, they were born the week of may 1st. one molted slightly, the other was very heavy. all feathers on her face, neck and alot on her back and butt. None of the other girls molted at all. I think the heavy molter might have done it cause she was sick for about 3 weeks to a month, and then started to molt. I think the sickness took alot out of her (sour crop along with diarrhea). most of mine are missing a few feathers on their backs, but I have a couple "feather pickers". Terrible.

Could something be stressing them out? is there any wild animals around getting any of your chooks? or scaring them?

Do you have your artificial light come on earlier in the morning? or do you have it stay on to extend the day? I've heard that extending the end of the day can be stressful as they can be caught off guard and off roost when it goes off, then of course be scared.

Just spit balling here, I got no answers. I get maybe 0-3 eggs a day out of my 6 i'm ok with that.

I have my light coming on in the AM. I do that for just the reason you mention, I do not want the light to go off abruptly and catch the birds not on the roosts.


I feel better when Minniechickmama says she was surprised I was getting so many before. You cannot believe the things I was thinking, I was sure I was doing something terribly wrong.

I have not had any problems in the coop. No predators, only the loud noisy guineas that disrupt life. I will have another covered fence and coop for them next year, I do not want them with my chickens again.

I did post some pictures of the back feathers missing on another thread, I think if you look at my gallery you can see the areas missing.


I looked for lice and mites, their is no blood on them. Must just be a combination of things.

 

[Cluckies]

Hmmm, I went and looked at your photos, that looks like feather picking to me (but i'm no expert). I would watch them for awhile to see if you can catch them in the act. I have two wearing pinless peepers right now due to feather picking. I'll try to find a photo of the girls who have been picked. It does not appear as bad as yours. I do have hen aprons for them as well, but am trying to leave them off right now, don't know if the aprons would let them fluff up and stay warm, but if they get bald, the aprons will go on. Last summer/fall, my one EE wore a saddle constantly cause she gets it the most. But, again, i'm no expert. My molter, mother, did not look like that though. I'll post a photo of her as well.


Baby one of my EE's, feather picked on her back. may have to click on it to enlarge as it is dark.


The silver laced wyandotte "mother" is the molter, lost her big tail feathers, some feathers on her back and all over, all the feathers on her head and neck. in this photo she still has some. There you can see my EE "Silly Goose" with an apron (this was about 4 weeks ago?) Also cluck-cluck with the peepers, she is the major feather picker.

If I remember, i'll try to get new photos when I go out in awhile.

 

[duluthralphie]

Thanks, If I have feather picking I know who to blame, the darn Guineas!!!

They are not good at cohabitating! I thought I would see blood if they were pulled out. The guineas may find themselves in a coop they do not like as well if this continues!

 

[cmom]

Thanks, If I have feather picking I know who to blame, the darn Guineas!!!

They are not good at cohabitating! I thought I would see blood if they were pulled out. The guineas may find themselves in a coop they do not like as well if this continues!

Would that be freezer camp?

 

[Cluckies]

Ok, updated photos. I had to take cluck-clucks peepers off for a couple of days, a few days ago, this was the result. she is terrible.


Baby, feather picked.


Goose, feather picked.


Mother, looking a little better from her molt, her tail feathers are growing back, head and neck feathers growing in. she is also feather picked on her lower back along with the molt.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Ugh...that feather picking...

Knock on wood I haven't had it. But have tried helping a friend who's had it. These cold days in the coop...the tension builds.

Have you tried some boredom busters? Putting scratch grains/BOSS or something in a plastic bottle with holes poked around it for them to toss around the coop. Or a hanging cabbage? I would keep the apron on the picked on girls. It might help break the habit. Also we found that adding some protein...clean meat (venison/fish) helps and putting a vitamin/probiotic drench in the water every week helps...in case it's nutritional.

 

[duluthralphie]

Ugh...that feather picking...

Knock on wood I haven't had it. But have tried helping a friend who's had it. These cold days in the coop...the tension builds.

Have you tried some boredom busters? Putting scratch grains/BOSS or something in a plastic bottle with holes poked around it for them to toss around the coop. Or a hanging cabbage? I would keep the apron on the picked on girls. It might help break the habit. Also we found that adding some protein...clean meat (venison/fish) helps and putting a vitamin/probiotic drench in the water every week helps...in case it's nutritional.

Good suggestions, I have bought a block of bird feed, the size of a salt block for cattle to put in the coop. I am also going to move the guineas out!

They are moving to a summer coop, in a month or two or 6 I might let them out of prison to free range again....

Next move is to my basement. Google search of the day is:

Recipe Guinea Orange sauce roasted

 

[Bogtown Chick]

LOL, Ralphie.

You are definitely selling me on NOT getting Guineas. Chooks forever....

 

[duluthralphie]

LOL, Ralphie.

You are definitely selling me on NOT getting Guineas. Chooks forever....

I love my guineas, do not get me wrong, BUT I worked at the reformatory in St cloud when I was in college, and I liked some of the inmates too.

This will really teach you about guineas and everything you need to know.

I have an open door to a covered run so the birds can go outside anytime they want. I have a small wind break on the north side of the fence also;

Now I Present the guineas:

They were louder, but when I opened the door they quieted down a lot. PLease turn your volume way up to get full effect.