My hens are losing their feathers and it isn't molting

[Camellia]

Yikes, that looks awful. Looks like some kind of yeast infection, I would try to spray some kind of antibacterial agent on that. Or, It could be mites, I suggest either giving them a good warm bath or cover DE on them and around the premises. Whatever it is, it could contaminate some of the other chickens, so I suggest you should probably quarantine the sick hens. I wish you luck and I hope your hens get well soon.

 

[sourland]

Some of the damage (primarily on the back of the head and shoulders) appears to be mating damage, but much of it looks like feather plucking/picking. That little buff hen appears to be in perfect condition. Very likely she or any other hens in perfect feather are the culprits.

 

[Ssuzanne425]

HE is one year old. He chases them and they squak (?) when he mates with them. They run from him. I am uneasy about castrating as well. I don't want to lose him but I can't have my flock terrorized. I also don't want him caged separately every day as that is not fair to him. I appreciate your thoughts and will check out that article!

 

[Ssuzanne425]

Some of the damage (primarily on the back of the head and shoulders) appears to be mating damage, but much of it looks like feather plucking/picking. That little buff hen appears to be in perfect condition. Very likely she or any other hens in perfect feather are the culprits.

That is what I thought re the buff hen. I caught her a couple of times and now I think I will take her out for a day or two to reestablish the pecking order. Do you agree with that?

 

[Ssuzanne425]

Yikes, that looks awful. Looks like some kind of yeast infection, I would try to spray some kind of antibacterial agent on that. Or, It could be mites, I suggest either giving them a good warm bath or cover DE on them and around the premises. Whatever it is, it could contaminate some of the other chickens, so I suggest you should probably quarantine the sick hens. I wish you luck and I hope your hens get well soon.

Thank you so much! I bet a warm bath would feel good to her! We don't have mites and I am spreading on some cream from the vet. It seems to be helping. It is Silver Sulfadiazine.

 

[ChickEngineer]

Yikes, that looks awful. Looks like some kind of yeast infection, I would try to spray some kind of antibacterial agent on that. Or, It could be mites, I suggest either giving them a good warm bath or cover DE on them and around the premises. Whatever it is, it could contaminate some of the other chickens, so I suggest you should probably quarantine the sick hens. I wish you luck and I hope your hens get well soon.

I was wondering about the DE dusting as well. I do not have a rooster, but could have some mites.

 

[ChickEngineer]

HE is one year old. He chases them and they squak (?) when he mates with them. They run from him. I am uneasy about castrating as well. I don't want to lose him but I can't have my flock terrorized. I also don't want him caged separately every day as that is not fair to him. I appreciate your thoughts and will check out that article!

As an aside, not part of your problem, but that is the ugliest water dish I have ever seen.
Would suggest you replace with something like a Harris Farms Plastic Poultry Drinker, 5 Quart and add a tablespoon of ACV to it. You can not put the ACV in a metal container.

 

[sourland]

That is what I thought re the buff hen. I caught her a couple of times and now I think I will take her out for a day or two to reestablish the pecking order. Do you agree with that?

Feather pecking/plucking is generally not a pecking order thing. It may start with boredom or a protein deficiency and then escalates into a bad habit. Do an on site search on 'Pin Less Peepers'. They can be used to protect others in the flock and once birds have refeathered (generally it takes a molt for this to happen) they can frequently be removed without the bad habit returning. By the way it does sound as if your rooster needs an extended time out until he settles down a bit. Good luck in finding a resolution.

 

[Ssuzanne425]

Feather pecking/plucking is generally not a pecking order thing. It may start with boredom or a protein deficiency and then escalates into a bad habit. Do an on site search on 'Pin Less Peepers'. They can be used to protect others in the flock and once birds have refeathered (generally it takes a molt for this to happen) they can frequently be removed without the bad habit returning. By the way it does sound as if your rooster needs an extended time out until he settles down a bit. Good luck in finding a resolution.

Thank you very much!!