Question about chickens & oil

[Polish_kid2020]

Hi,
I was wondering if you could put coconut oil on chickens to fix their feathers?

I was also wondering if anyone had any methods to fix broken feathers or ones that are splitting.

 

[hannah and the chickens]

Fully-grown feathers are lifeless, there is no blood flow in them. Because of that, feathers can't be repaired. Putting coconut oil on the feathers would probably only lead to the feathers becoming sticky and dirty.

You'll have to wait until your chicken starts molting, the new feathers will look fine again. During molt, you can feed your chicken things like nutritional yeast or other things that are high in b vitamins and feed that is a bit higher in protein.

Also, check for parasites regularly to make sure that the chickens' feathers aren't destroyed by lice.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Just DO NOT try this........

 

[aart]

I was also wondering if anyone had any methods to fix broken feathers or ones that are splitting.

As already stated, you can't fix broken feathers.

But you should figure out why they have broken/split feathers.
Some pics of said feathers would help here.
Additional info needed:
Number, ages, and genders of birds you have.
Dimensions and pics of coop and run.
What all and how exactly are you feeding.

 

[icy_flames]

You can try increasing their protein intake a little bit. I give my birds hard boiled eggs 2-3 times a week. They also get sunflower seeds. All have beautiful shiny feathers

 

[aart]

I am pretty sure pepper my white crested black cockerel broke his feathers by rubbbing them on the chicken wire in his coop.

Yep. Cocks here have busted up tail feathers because I put the roosts too close(12") to the HC walls. Nothing will 'fix' them...and it's really not an issue unless you are showing the birds.

 

[David61]

coconut oil will help with fungus and bugs. I use it on thier legs and feet. They can get a warm anti fungal/ringworm shampoo and Epson salt bath for poopy butt or gleet. Thats about all they would need. Permethrin for bugs.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Try a bath for them. Usually helps align some of the barbs.

Also for glossy feathers, offer some anchovies. The protein and fish oil help with that, but their eggs will taste fishy

 

[Polish_kid2020]

Ok

Yep. Cocks here have busted up tail feathers because I put the roosts too close(12") to the HC walls. Nothing will 'fix' them...and it's really not an issue unless you are showing the birds.

Yeah, well...
I was going to show him at my local fair.

 

[aart]

Yeah, well...
I was going to show him at my local fair.

You could always fully pluck out the bad feathers, then new ones will grow out.
After you get a coop/run that won't damage the feathers.