New Chickens - Horrible Conditions

[Chicks & Dip]

I got 15 chickens from my mom this year. Most have no feathers on their backs, and one has random patches on it's whole body. One has half of it's top beak, and 3/4 of it's bottom one. It also has had her wings clipped. They were $5 each. I am scared for my new babies! WHat should I do?!? They are not pecking eachother, nor pecking themselves enough to loose all the feathers. I will include pics soon.

 

[teach1rusl]

I don't understand. If you got them from your mother, then surely you knew the conditions under which they were living??? Sounds like they had a rough life and were overused/illused by aggressive roosters. Keep them away from roosters. Give them lots of TLC. Educate yourself and your mother on chicken care. But maybe I'm missing some critical info.????

 

[LynneP]

Do you mean that your mother obtained them for you?

Good basic care should help them immensely, and it's a good sign that they are not going at each other.

Are they layers?

If so good layer feed, plenty of clean water and probably a vitamin mix for the time being in the water.
(Baby vitamins (no added iron) or poultry vitamins).

Be sure they have the grit and oyster shell they need, too.

 

[Sillystunt]

sounds like mom bought them from a swap or something?? I hope

Quarintine them for 30 days!!!! Incase they are sick or have something!!!! Keep away nfrom your other chickens

Just give them plenty of feed, fresh water , some protien filled snacks maybe(scrambled eggs), plain yogart is a probiotic(helps build up good bacteria ), oh some poly vit's from the baby section(give a drop or so in the mouth) to boost them up!! The feathers will start to come back in. As for the beak????

OH, keep them warm since they have no feathers in places. Maybe if chilly at night a heat light or 85 watt flood light

Oh yeah and LOVE!! Congrats ~

 

[ranchhand]

Everything the previous posters said- and ... if you already have some chickens, a minimum 30 day quarantine!


And now, after having read a bit more thoroughly, what Silly said!

 

[Ridgerunner]

First, check for lice and mites, including roost mites which only come out at night.

Ohio State – Mites and Lice
http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme-fact/0018.html

Then, are they molting? Sounds like like they could be. This link might help you determine that.

Mississippi State describes molting
http://msucares.com/poultry/management/poultry_feathers.html

The one with the beak trimmed sounds like she may have been a battery hen, a commercial layer kept in tight conditions and they trimmed her beak to keep her from pecking the others because of the tight conditions. It is also possible she was a feather picker and her beak was trimmed to stop that or maybe an egg eater and her beak was trimmed to stop that. There are several different reasons someone might trim a beak. With her wing clipped, I'd suspect she came from a backyard flock instead of a commercial operation, but I certainly am not sure.

Pictures would be nice, but good food and housing will go along way. I'd suspect there is nothing major to worry about that decent treatment and patience won't cure, but feather loss could be a sign of a problem. I'lli include one more link for you to check out. You sound concerned and I want to give you enough information that you can legitimately rest easier. Good luck!!!!

Kansas State feather loss
http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/library/lvstk2/mf2308.pdf

 

[Chicks & Dip]

I figured out that two days ago, they were being very mistreated at their old home. They turned into cannibals because they were being starved. They are doing a little better, and I rubbed some stuff that stopped them from pecking! Thank you all!

 

[OhMyItsAndyy]

They sound like they could have all been battery hen's to me.
Deffinatly quarentine, and check for live and such.
Give them all a nice bath too ... just clean them up, keep them warm, feed them well.
Hope they are all well soon

 

[Chicks & Dip]

battery hen?

 

[farmin'chick]

Battery hen is a commercial cage kept layer. The cages are grouped together, the group is called a battery.