Pita Pinta Feather Loss

[PasoRoblesEgger]

Hi All,

Hoping someone has an idea what may be going on. My three year old Pinta Pinta hen is loosing her feathers under the wing. I noticed this afternoon, it's happening on the other side in the same spot.

Last year in November she molted super hard. It was so cold, I brought her into the house, then moved her out to the garage as her feathers came back. She's still sleeping in the kennel, and free ranges during the day. She doesn't seem to want to go back to the coop. She's had plenty of opportunities to go back with the others when they free range, but trots her little booty back to the garage and jumps in her kennel.

She eats the same feed as the others (18% layer pellets), gets grub and vegetable/fruit treats-and free ranges all day. So not lack of food. I haven't seen any worms or mites. Her comb is bright red, she's not lethargic. But for as much as she eats, is on the thin side. Also, she's laid a soft shelled egg a couple of times a few months back. Her other eggs have a rougher, thinner shell than my other girls.

I'm in California, so limited on meds I can buy. Wanted to mention that too.

 

[nuthatched]

How often does she get veggies and treats?

 

[Eggcessive]

I don’t see any evidence of feather picking. Is it on both sides? If so, I probably wouldn’t worry about it.

 

[PasoRoblesEgger]

How often does she get veggies and treats?

Whenever dinner vegetable scraps are suitable, about four times a week on average for "extra treats". She is finishing her pellets every day if that's where you're heading

 

[PasoRoblesEgger]

I don’t see any evidence of feather picking. Is it on both sides? If so, I probably wouldn’t worry about it.

It is on both sides now, didn't start out that way. Her skin isn't red or inflamed?

 

[Eggcessive]

I would just probably keep an eye on her. I have seen a couple who had bare spots under wings.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Feather loss is under her wings, against the body; your 1st picture? Assuming it's only her? You've checked for mites/lice ... Do you see her preening herself under her wings alot? Thinking maybe she's pulling feathers out ... Feather picking is due to boredom or needing more protein, Read there's a spray to help prevent feather picking, you may want to try that.

The question about "treats" whether it table scraps or veggies, it's been said not to be more than 10% of their feed. Regardles they eat all their feed, when we toss "treats" it they off set the nutritional value that they require that's in their feed.

You're feeding layer which has "higher" calcium but maybe she needs a bit more (soft shell) try giving her a calcium supplement (calcium carbonate w/D) tablet or Oyster Shell Flour to her foo or separate dish of Oyster Shells for them/her.

She looks very healthy and wouldn't worry but keep a close eye on her. As for her going back to her kennel, she knows it as home. Unless you close it off & coop her with the flock, she'll return, it's nicer ... my thought

 

[nuthatched]

Whenever dinner vegetable scraps are suitable, about four times a week on average for "extra treats". She is finishing her pellets every day if that's where you're heading

She's supposed to have unlimited access to pellets, its not a "finishing them all" thing, treats are supposed to be less than 10% of their diet. As long as she's acting normal, I wouldn't worry.