Off color feathers

[glenstorm]

Hello,

Longtime searcher/first time poster.

I have a blue andalusian hen that is about a year old. She has recently recovered (She's been back in the coop for a week now) from an attack from a hawk or fox, not sure which. Her feathers have been growing back fine. However the feathers she didn't lose have started to turn brown.

I am wondering if people think:

a) this related to the injury,
b) a separate illness/vitamin deficiency
c) completely normal

Thanks,

Dan

 

[Chickengal505]

Hmmmm.... I'm not shure what could cause the feathers to turn colors

If she gets worse or changes be shure to update us. What color where the feathers in the first place and what color are the new feathers comming in? Where are the feathers turning brown or is it all over? Could she just be geting into some kind of dirt thats dieing her feathers?

Could you fill this out as well? It would help alot:

1) What type of bird , age and weight.

2) What is the behavior, exactly.

3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?

4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?

5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.

6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.

7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.

8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.

9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?

10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?

11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.

12) Describe the housing/bedding in use

 

[quintinp]

one time i had a chicken get all of her feathers plucked out by her flock members, and i sprayed some of that purple lotion spray, (it is for horse wounds), well it healed up and when her tail grew back she had purple tail feathers for about 4 months, it was funny to see her purple tail, she was an Easter Egger

 

[glenstorm]

Quote:
Blue Andalusian, 1 year old, weight: I am not sure about but she looks healthy. She's always been a sleek, streamlined build still is.
Her feathers have always been a slate blue/gray.

2) What is the behavior, exactly.

No peculiar or conspicuous behavior other than the color change.

3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?

2-3 days

4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?

No

5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.

No

6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.

Four weeks ago she was wounded by a predator. At first I thought it was a hawk attack because the the most obvious wound was square on her back. IT was being pecked at by the other hens. After initially treating that wound I found two others. One right one the tip of her rump/tail and another just below her vent. All these wounds have healed and feathers have begun to grow back, but it is the old feathers that are browning not the new ones.

7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.

Free ranging, general pellet feed, and a red millet scratch mixture.

8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.

This I can't answer for the specific chicken. I'll follow her around tomorrow and get back to you. While she was isolated from the previous injuries the poop seemed to alternate between runny and firm. It was predominately firm though.

9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?

No treatment for the discolored feathers "problem" yet.

10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?

I am just trying to figure out if this is a problem or natural lifecycle transition.

11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.

12) Describe the housing/bedding in use

Chicken Ark top section has a floor that is 8' x 3'. Bedding in straw. Three other hens.
She is seems to be the "cool" chicken. No one picks on her and she doesn't pick on anyone else. There does seem to be a hierachical transition happening with the other three. The former "#1" has been brooding. The former #3 has taken this as an opportunity to asscend the ranks and now seems to be #1. She has been particularly aggressive towards #2.​