- Jun 2, 2011
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The brief intro is we have a small home flock of laying hens (mixed heavies) and are located on Cape Cod (eastern Massachusetts). We've had hens a few times over the years, but would still classify ourselves as novices beyond the basics. I found this chatboard via a websearch for a chicken forum
The reason I am posting today is due to a concern...
We raised a group of day olds (kept 11, hatched 1/29/11), but got impatient for eggs, and adopted two hens from a less than desirable situation, which is what brings me here today.
These other hens were loved, but the type of situation where they were rescued by a well meaning, but inexperienced person, and were grossly overcrowded as a result. Other than loss of back feathers (minor to extreme raw backs), they were friendly, had good weight, and no signs of lice (then or now).
Of the two we brought home (about 6 weeks ago now), one (named Missy) only had a small area missing feathers (maybe the size of an egg), and only a little "red" (but not raw) area above her tail feathers (definately not a sunburn issue/they were in a covered run surrounded by trees). She is nearly 100% healed (can't see a bald spot and feathers are about 90% replaced in the area).
The other girl (named Penny), approxiamately 50% of her back and the entire "butt" area was raw. Her back is looking MUCH better. The effected area on her back is now only a bit red in the center, but not "raw" looking. The "healed" area on her back without feathers is now what I believe to be her appropriate skin tone. I am not sure if her "back feathers" will grow back or not. What has me still concerned is her "back end" while not AS raw looking as it was, is still pretty RED, and the best I can tell, doesnt look to be regrowing any feathers. Should we put anything (ointment/bag balm) on her back end or just wait it out?
We have no issues with pecking order (the new girls are not dominant), plenty of room, etc, thus no "new" pecking of feathers. They are all very laid back, well Penny is a pest to ME (talkative/under foot) until she has laid her egg LOL.
I should also add that the home these two hens came from had no roos, nor do we.
Any ideas or advice for Penny would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Geri
The reason I am posting today is due to a concern...We raised a group of day olds (kept 11, hatched 1/29/11), but got impatient for eggs, and adopted two hens from a less than desirable situation, which is what brings me here today.
These other hens were loved, but the type of situation where they were rescued by a well meaning, but inexperienced person, and were grossly overcrowded as a result. Other than loss of back feathers (minor to extreme raw backs), they were friendly, had good weight, and no signs of lice (then or now).
Of the two we brought home (about 6 weeks ago now), one (named Missy) only had a small area missing feathers (maybe the size of an egg), and only a little "red" (but not raw) area above her tail feathers (definately not a sunburn issue/they were in a covered run surrounded by trees). She is nearly 100% healed (can't see a bald spot and feathers are about 90% replaced in the area).
The other girl (named Penny), approxiamately 50% of her back and the entire "butt" area was raw. Her back is looking MUCH better. The effected area on her back is now only a bit red in the center, but not "raw" looking. The "healed" area on her back without feathers is now what I believe to be her appropriate skin tone. I am not sure if her "back feathers" will grow back or not. What has me still concerned is her "back end" while not AS raw looking as it was, is still pretty RED, and the best I can tell, doesnt look to be regrowing any feathers. Should we put anything (ointment/bag balm) on her back end or just wait it out?
We have no issues with pecking order (the new girls are not dominant), plenty of room, etc, thus no "new" pecking of feathers. They are all very laid back, well Penny is a pest to ME (talkative/under foot) until she has laid her egg LOL.
I should also add that the home these two hens came from had no roos, nor do we.
Any ideas or advice for Penny would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Geri
