Not sure if juvenile molt or a problem?

[CrazyTownChick]

This is one of my 13 (hopefully) hens that are 13ish weeks old now. In their coop, it looks like a feather pillow was cut open. I mix the feathers in with the deep litter - industrial hemp. I figure the feathers may help keep them warm at night. So I think all have been through a juvenile molt in their last several weeks as fall approaches.

This one has me puzzled. She had a beautiful fan shaped, waterfall type tail until last week. Yes, I've been concerned that it looked like a rooster tail. Then the feathers fell out. !?!? Not quite sure what's going in. I picked her up and looked at the tail area and saw nothing wrong.
ideas? Thoughts? About 2 weeks ago we did carefully brush permethrin on their butts/tails as a treatment for mites. Saw no adverse reactions, less picking.
First two, and my avatar, are of her tail before. Last two are if her tailless rump.
A mixed breed of possibly RIR, NH Red, and who knows what. Very pale comb and wattles, so I'm not too worried about her being a him.

 

[reddogmaster2]

Same thing happened to one of our 16 week old pullets. For a day or so, she was pretty puny then she started snapping out of it. ACV in her water and a dose of some over the counter med (wife handled that not me) and she is good to go!

(Chicken, not wife! ) Good luck

 

[CrazyTownChick]

Same thing happened to one of our 16 week old pullets. For a day or so, she was pretty puny then she started snapping out of it. ACV in her water and a dose of some over the counter med (wife handled that not me) and she is good to go!

(Chicken, not wife! ) Good luck

Glad you clarified, chicken not wife.

So yours lost a tail at 16 weeks, Interesting. Curious about the OTC medicine. I guess it all varies based on the individual. Thanks for sharing. It may not be as weird as ai thought.
Her sisters have molted some too, but no one else lost a complete tail. It just puzzled me.
We do put ACV in one of their two waterers. Every other day. On the other day we put in Hydro Hen.
They're getting a mix of medicated Chick Starter to finish off a bag, plus Flock Raiser that has 20% protein. Also we give them various protein healthy snacks during the day...not too much so they dont eat feed.
Thanks!

 

[reddogmaster2]

Glad you clarified, chicken not wife.

So yours lost a tail at 16 weeks, Interesting. Curious about the OTC medicine. I guess it all varies based on the individual. Thanks for sharing. It may not be as weird as ai thought.
Her sisters have molted some too, but no one else lost a complete tail. It just puzzled me.
We do put ACV in one of their two waterers. Every other day. On the other day we put in Hydro Hen.
They're getting a mix of medicated Chick Starter to finish off a bag, plus Flock Raiser that has 20% protein. Also we give them various protein healthy snacks during the day...not too much so they dont eat feed.
Thanks!

We used some Amprollium just in case.

 

[CrazyTownChick]

We used some Amprollium just in case.

Thanks for the Info. I'll check into that.

 

[aart]

About 2 weeks ago we did carefully brush permethrin on their butts/tails as a treatment for mites.

Did they actual have mites?
Best not to treat or medicate unless there's a real reason.
A good chicken ration, minimal treats, and plain water is what's best.
I'd guess you are just seeing a juvenile molt.

 

[CrazyTownChick]

Did they actual have mites?
Best not to treat or medicate unless there's a real reason.
A good chicken ration, minimal treats, and plain water is what's best.
I'd guess you are just seeing a juvenile molt.

Not 100% sure about the mites. They were all scratching and picking at themselves, some almost incessantly. When we treated we looked and thought we may have seen some mites, but were not sure. Do you think we overmedicated? There were tons of flies in their coop before...now essentially none.
They do have astring healthy diet of Flock Raiser with a little Chick starter, grit, ACV or Hydro Hen water always with fresh water available.
I do give them treats every day, which is probably a bad habit. My bad habit.
Her behavior seems pretty normal. I noticed last night she was the last to go into the coop. Seems to lack confidence sometimes. Wondering if it's a pecking order thing. Still havent figured out who is Top Hen.

 

[CrazyTownChick]

Not 100% sure about the mites. They were all scratching and picking at themselves, some almost incessantly. When we treated we looked and thought we may have seen some mites, but were not sure. Do you think we overmedicated? There were tons of flies in their coop before...now essentially none.
They do have astring healthy diet of Flock Raiser with a little Chick starter, grit, ACV or Hydro Hen water always with fresh water available.
I do give them treats every day, which is probably a bad habit. My bad habit.
Her behavior seems pretty normal. I noticed last night she was the last to go into the coop. Seems to lack confidence sometimes. Wondering if it's a pecking order thing. Still havent figured out who is Top Hen.

I meant I, Not They, havent figured out pecking order yet. Pretty sure they know. They discuss it loudly and passionately every night at bedtime. ‍

I'm still waiting for them to email their org chart to me.

 

[3KillerBs]

I think I've got a juvenile molt going on at 11 and 13 weeks (the Brahmas are older). Parts of the run look like a chicken exploded. Cordon lost her white wing tip feathers and now I absolutely cannot tell Cordon and Teriyaki apart at all.

 

[CrazyTownChick]

I think I've got a juvenile molt going on at 11 and 13 weeks (the Brahmas are older). Parts of the run look like a chicken exploded. Cordon lost her white wing tip feathers and now I absolutely cannot tell Cordon and Teriyaki apart at all.

Sounds familiar!