My hen is sick

[Kiki]

Welcome! We are glad you joined our flock!
Jump right in and make yourself at home.
I agree those are new feathers coming in. May I ask what type of feed you use?

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BYC has an APP!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you I will try and get better photos when I have a helper,
If you can see on the photo there are dark patches and when I move feathers back it is like that all over her!
Thanks for your reply

Hope these photo are a little clearer, my daughter quite freaked out by her and doesn’t like touching her, poor girl looks in a bad way

Oh, I see it now She is molting. Those dark patches are pin feathers (new/emerging feathers) coming in. New feathers have a blood supply flowing through them and they are encased in a keratin coating or feather sheath. Next to the skin the feathers can look dark due to the blood supply. That is normal.

She may even lose more feathers if she is going through a hard molt, losing her neck, wing and tail feathers. They truly look pitiful during this time, but once they are feathered in, they look lovely and new.

Molting can take a lot out of them and sometimes they don't feel to great when in full molt. I usually offer poultry vitamins a couple of times a week and extra protein to these girls to give them a boost.
Chicken Chick has a write up about molting, she also has some good photos http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/molting-what-is-it-and-how-to-help/

Hope all this helps

 

[TigerAlee]

Welcome! We are glad you joined our flock!
Jump right in and make yourself at home.
I agree those are new feathers coming in. May I ask what type of feed you use?

This video will help you learn how to navigate this site:

Coop Ideas:
Chicken Coops

BYC has an APP!

Thank you I use a good quality poultry mix (it’s literally the only one they eat most of) they have crushed shell and laying pellets and also scraps

I’m just concerned what all the black is as I’ve never seen anything like it before, is pretty gross

 

[TigerAlee]

Thank you so much for your response and it’s quite reassuring! My girls have moulted before but never seen this blackness. She does look In a bad way!

Oh, I see it now She is molting. Those dark patches are pin feathers (new/emerging feathers) coming in. New feathers have a blood supply flowing through them and they are encased in a keratin coating or feather sheath. Next to the skin the feathers can look dark due to the blood supply. That is normal.

She may even lose more feathers if she is going through a hard molt, losing her neck, wing and tail feathers. They truly look pitiful during this time, but once they are feathered in, they look lovely and new.

Molting can take a lot out of them and sometimes they don't feel to great when in full molt. I usually offer poultry vitamins a couple of times a week and extra protein to these girls to give them a boost.
Chicken Chick has a write up about molting, she also has some good photos http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/molting-what-is-it-and-how-to-help/

Hope all this helps



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hank you