New member needs help

[Melsbirds]

Greetings! Im pretty new to raising chickens. I have two Buff Orpington layers, each about a year old. I also have two Barred Rock pullets. The Buffs live in a custom constructed 4'x3' house, which is bedded with pine shavings. The house is attached to a 12'x3' run, lined with bare dirt (they ate and dug up the grass within minutes!). It seems they have plenty of room, and they seem to be happy. I haven't seen any evidence of the hens picking at each other.

One of the Buffs, however, has lost the feathers around her back end, beneath her tail), leaving the skin bare and exposed. What might be the cause? I considered it might be a lice or mite infestation, but the feather loss has, thus far, affected only one of the girls. Can someone help?

 

[Everose]

Greetings! Im pretty new to raising chickens. I have two Buff Orpington layers, each about a year old. I also have two Barred Rock pullets. The Buffs live in a custom constructed 4'x3' house, which is bedded with pine shavings. The house is attached to a 12'x3' run, lined with bare dirt (they ate and dug up the grass within minutes!). It seems they have plenty of room, and they seem to be happy. I haven't seen any evidence of the hens picking at each other.

One of the Buffs, however, has lost the feathers around her back end, beneath her tail), leaving the skin bare and exposed. What might be the cause? I considered it might be a lice or mite infestation, but the feather loss has, thus far, affected only one of the girls. Can someone help?

Welcome to BYC! I love buff Orpington chickens, feel free to post pics! We can't get enough of em around here

I think it's about time for the chickens to be molting, some are funky when it comes to molting. I'm no expert on feather loss or molting do I'll let another expert weigh in.

Good luck! Hope you enjoy it here as much as I do!

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
Please post pictures. Do you see pin feathers coming in?

 

[janiedoe]

Welcome to BYC! Please post some pictures. 1.Have you noticed her spending more time in the nest? (She may be plucking herself because she is going broody.)
2. Is there any discharge from her vent? (This may indicate vent gleet.)
3. Where are you located? (She may have started her molt, if the weather there is cooling off.)
4. Are you feeding them a good quality feed, with no more than 10% of their diet from treats? ( Good nutrition is very important for nice feathers.)
You may also want to watch closely, the other hen may be bullying her. Hens get bored, even with plenty of space. You can add roosts, suet feeders, and dust baths to the run to help alleviate boredom.
In the meantime, you can up their protein with a few sardines a week or by mixing a higher protein feed with your current feed.

 

[Marie2020]

Hello



I washed and oiled my girls when the lost feathers. But weather or stress can play it's part.

Have you looked to see if there are any mites

You may find more suggestions here...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures.10/

 

[Melsbirds]

Welcome to BYC! I love buff Orpington chickens, feel free to post pics! We can't get enough of em around here

I think it's about time for the chickens to be molting, some are funky when it comes to molting. I'm no expert on feather loss or molting do I'll let another expert weigh in.

Good luck! Hope you enjoy it here as much as I do!

Welcome to BYC! I love buff Orpington chickens, feel free to post pics! We can't get enough of em around here

I think it's about time for the chickens to be molting, some are funky when it comes to molting. I'm no expert on feather loss or molting do I'll let another expert weigh in.

Good luck! Hope you enjoy it here as much as I do!

Thanks mucho! Ill get some pix up, soon.

 

[Melsbirds]

Welcome to BYC! Please post some pictures. 1.Have you noticed her spending more time in the nest? (She may be plucking herself because she is going broody.)
2. Is there any discharge from her vent? (This may indicate vent gleet.)
3. Where are you located? (She may have started her molt, if the weather there is cooling off.)
4. Are you feeding them a good quality feed, with no more than 10% of their diet from treats? ( Good nutrition is very important for nice feathers.)
You may also want to watch closely, the other hen may be bullying her. Hens get bored, even with plenty of space. You can add roosts, suet feeders, and dust baths to the run to help alleviate boredom.
In the meantime, you can up their protein with a few sardines a week or by mixing a higher protein feed with your current feed.

Thank you for the quick response. Im in So Cal, so it's warm (getting hotter). I haven't noticed the girls spending too much time in the nest; one of them went through a broody stage two months ago, but she grew out of it. I feed them Scratch & Peck organic layer feed (16% protein, no corn), and treats consist of lettuce, fruit trimmings, or a handful of dried grubs, once a day. I will check her vent when I inspect for mites/lice (what is "vent gleet?" How do you treat it? I will try a dust-bath bin for them (do you recommend sand, DE, or what?).

 

[cmom]

My first thought this is the time of the year when some birds start their yearly molt. I have some with some feathers missing around their necks due to molting. Some birds have lighter molts and some heavier molts. If you prepare a dust bath I recommend poultry dust that has permethrin in it.

 

[Pork Pie]

Welcome to BYC - you have some great advice already so I'll just say hello!
All the best

Pork Pie

 

[cmom]

Some mites only come out at night to feed on the birds so if you check them during the day and don't see anything, wait in the evening when they roost and check them then. I use a headlamp so I have both of my hands free to inspect the birds. I also take some paper towels and rub the roosts on and under and look for streaks on the paper towel which is a sign of probably mites. Good luck...