More then molting??

[Nssn97]

**this did NOT happen in my care**
I picked these lady’s up last night plus 3 more.
They’re looking rough is putting it nicely, the lady said they are molting but my other girls never looked this bad during their molt.
You’re also not smelling the best but I don’t know if that is just from their previous coop or on the bird directly
Is this normal, or is my concern valid?

 

[Sally PB]

Molting and feather picking? Why did the woman want to get rid of these birds?

Usually there are pin feathers coming in where the old feathers were.

 

[Eggcessive]

It looks like cannibalism and feather picking, but they also may be molting since it is that time of year. This is a learned behavior that can become habit forming. I have used BluKote spray on red and irritated skin, to hide or diguise it, so they don’t peck the skin on my bare headed polish hens who were bullied. Use it with caution, as some report that it might call attention to attract more pecking. I always had good luck with it. Their is another product called Alushield, an aluminum spray used on horses that also covers wounds on skin.

Pinless peepers are sometimes used for the bully who goes around pulling out feathers or pecks vents. Chickens do die sometimes from vent pecking and cannibalism. Overcrowding, too little protein in the diet (less than 16-20%,) feeding too many treats, too much light or heat inside a coop, and some aggressive birds are some of the causes of cannibalism. Hopefully, they will recover, but some hens will not regrow feathers until the next yearly molt, unfortunately. Hen saddles or aprons are sometimes used for missing feathers on the back and wings until the next molt. Here is a good article to read:
https://extension.psu.edu/poultry-c...urs when the,rapidly through the entire flock.

 

[Nssn97]

Molting and feather picking? Why did the woman want to get rid of these birds?

Usually there are pin feathers coming in where the old feathers were.

she was having a hard time keeping up with them all, so she was selling off most of her animals and only keeping her silkies

 

[Nssn97]

It looks like cannibalism and feather picking, but they also may be molting since it is that time of year. This is a learned behavior that can become habit forming. I have used BluKote spray on red and irritated skin, to hide or diguise it, so they don’t peck the skin on my bare headed polish hens who were bullied. Use it with caution, as some report that it might call attention to attract more pecking. I always had good luck with it. Their is another product called Alushield, an aluminum spray used on horses that also covers wounds on skin.

Pinless peepers are sometimes used for the bully who goes around pulling out feathers or pecks vents. Chickens do die sometimes from vent pecking and cannibalism. Overcrowding, too little protein in the diet (less than 16-20%,) feeding too many treats, too much light or heat inside a coop, and some aggressive birds are some of the causes of cannibalism. Hopefully, they will recover, but some hens will not regrow feathers until the next yearly molt, unfortunately. Hen saddles or aprons are sometimes used for missing feathers on the back and wings until the next molt. Here is a good article to read:
https://extension.psu.edu/poultry-cannibalism-prevention-and-treatment#:~:text=Cannibalism usually occurs when the,rapidly through the entire flock.

Judging from where, I picked them up it might be overcrowding/dirty coop and cannibalism!
I will have to buy a couple more aprons and will definitely get some thing to cover the wounds
Thank you for your feedback!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Is this normal, or is my concern valid?

I personally would be hard pressed to not also consider some external parasites making the skin so angry like that.

 

[Nssn97]

I personally would be hard pressed to not also consider some external parasites making the skin so angry like that.

That was my concern as well, but I can not find any lice or mites.
I’m thinking maybe from sitting in their own poop?
There is pecking going on and I have an apron on the girl with the real red bum since even her tail has been pecked away

 

[Eggcessive]

A few years ago, I took some polar fleece stretchy fabric and made some no sew hen saddles by just cutting some wing slits. Here is a similar way of making some:
http://www.linnacresfarm.com/2014/04/how-to-make-simple-hen-saddleapron.html