Missing feathers?

[Ejmurd]

Ok guys and gals, we are newbie chicken owners. We have noticed a few of our hens (kids) are missing tail feathers and some are a little bloody. We he lane defeated them and spayed medication and they look to be healing fine. Our question is, more of our hens are losing feathers in the same area. Is this molting? Or boredom? Or defiencies? What should we do?

 

[Debbie292d]

To me, that looks like rooster damage while mating. Do you have any roosters?

If not, molting doesn't usually cause bleeding unless they're being pecked on.

Pecking is usually caused from two main things, either overcrowding or lack of protein.

Overcrowding issues can happen if they don't have about 4 square feet each in the coop, and about 15 square feet each in the run.

Lack of protein can be caused if their layer feed is lower in protein or they're getting too many treats. Most all-flock versions are 20% protein versus most layer feeds are around 16%. If you move to an all-flock feed, you'll have to supplement calcium via oyster shell in a separate dish as that's lower in calcium than the layer is.

 

[Noraaaaa]

what Debbie said was very helpful and I agree with her statement!

 

[Ejmurd]

To me, that looks like rooster damage while mating. Do you have any roosters?

If not, molting doesn't usually cause bleeding unless they're being pecked on.

Pecking is usually caused from two main things, either overcrowding or lack of protein.

Overcrowding issues can happen if they don't have about 4 square feet each in the coop, and about 15 square feet each in the run.

Lack of protein can be caused if their layer feed is lower in protein or they're getting too many treats. Most all-flock versions are 20% protein versus most layer feeds are around 16%. If you move to an all-flock feed, you'll have to supplement calcium via oyster shell in a separate dish as that's lower in calcium than the layer is.

thanks for the info. we have been feeding Purina 16% and just recently switched to Nutrena 16% pellet. Should I bump it up to 20 %?
also, we have 36 total we keep in a 12x12 roost with a run that is 20x24. I would have thought we had plenty of room but maybe not. What are your thoughts on knowing our numbers?

 

[Ejmurd]

what Debbie said was very helpful and I agree with her statement!

I agree some good information, now, we just need to do some process of elimination.

 

[Debbie292d]

thanks for the info. we have been feeding Purina 16% and just recently switched to Nutrena 16% pellet. Should I bump it up to 20 %?
also, we have 36 total we keep in a 12x12 roost with a run that is 20x24. I would have thought we had plenty of room but maybe not. What are your thoughts on knowing our numbers?

That seems sufficient size for both coop and run and 36 chickens. Are there any roosters though? If that's from roosters, the ratio may be too many roosters per hens. Minimally it's 1 to 5, but most would suggest 1 to 7 or 10.

I only bumped ours to 20% a couple of years ago for two selfish reasons; (1) We grow chicks out often and with all-flock crumbles, chicks can have that too, so that's one feed for everyone, and (2) we raise fancy silkies, and the higher protein helps their feathers.

 

[Ejmurd]

That seems sufficient size for both coop and run and 36 chickens. Are there any roosters though? If that's from roosters, the ratio may be too many roosters per hens. Minimally it's 1 to 5, but most would suggest 1 to 7 or 10.

I only bumped ours to 20% a couple of years ago for two selfish reasons; (1) We grow chicks out often and with all-flock crumbles, chicks can have that too, so that's one feed for everyone, and (2) we raise fancy silkies, and the higher protein helps their feathers.

we have one marans roo and one little silkie roo, the marans roo is missing some feathers on his backside too.

 

[Ejmurd]

we have one marans roo and one little silkie roo, the marans roo is missing some feathers on his backside too.

I'll try and get some more pics this evening when we get in

 

[Debbie292d]

we have one marans roo and one little silkie roo, the marans roo is missing some feathers on his backside too.

Have you checked for mites? Generally, those you'd see signs of by their vent.

With just those two little roosters to 34 hens, I can't imagine that's from them.

Just in case, might want to pick up a can of Permethrin/garden powder. You'd dust them, the coop, nest boxes, roosts, everywhere they go.

Extra protein would help them grow back, plus, if that's the issue, then it's done. For right now, until you run out of your current feed, I'd scramble them up some eggs one day. Tuna is expensive but if you've got a few extra cans of tuna in water, they'll love that for another day. Meal worms should just be sparingly, but they're packed with protein so if you have any, be sure each is getting a few of those. Anything else you can think of high protein will help.

 

[Ejmurd]

Have you checked for mites? Generally, those you'd see signs of by their vent.

With just those two little roosters to 34 hens, I can't imagine that's from them.

Just in case, might want to pick up a can of Permethrin/garden powder. You'd dust them, the coop, nest boxes, roosts, everywhere they go.

Extra protein would help them grow back, plus, if that's the issue, then it's done. For right now, until you run out of your current feed, I'd scramble them up some eggs one day. Tuna is expensive but if you've got a few extra cans of tuna in water, they'll love that for another day. Meal worms should just be sparingly, but they're packed with protein so if you have any, be sure each is getting a few of those. Anything else you can think of high protein will help.

how does permethrin compare to Diatomaceous Earth? the reason I ask I just looked it up and read about it, and it said it's toxic to honeybees, I have 4 hives about 30 yards from our coop. any other suggestions?