Ruby is unwell :(

[micstrachan]

I think I figured this out today (coincidentally). I think it was a mold exposure. Not in the feed, but in the run (and they beak out their feed from the containers and eat off the ground). Today I was turning the litter in the second half of the pen and found a few green, moldy turds. They were that blue-green (think patina on bronze or copper) color. I threw out the ones I found.
So deep litter is new to me this year. Last weekend it was super dry when I turned it, so I wetted it down. Plus I run misters on hot days. So how does one avoid mold in the run when doing deep litter and misting? Turn it more often? Can I not do this anymore? Totally hate the thought of going back to sand. I love the compost the deep litter provides for my yard.

 

[Kathy Golla]

Hi. Dlm needs moisture to get that bottom layer of compost. The hens droppings are supposed to provide the moisture. But I have too large of a pen and too few hens to fully do this. I wet mine down too periodically because the shavings don’t break down without some moisture and the soil just becomes compacted and the top layer dusty. Plus my girls stay busy digging and the can’t dig if the layer under the top layer is hard, dry and compacted.
If you smell ammonia it’s too wet. I see little spots like what you describe but it’s more like the wood chips breaking down. Watering it slightly Wouldn’t or should cause mold. Sounds like maybe you need to just keep your eye out for possible moldy spots. watch for an ammonia smell. Aerating the layer under the first layer slightly will help.

 

[micstrachan]

Thank you! I can’t smell anything at all. How do you aerate the under layer?

 

[Kathy Golla]

I have a top layer all the time. You should be able to rake that.
The under layer is right underneath the layer you can rake.
You can turn that layer over like an inch with a pitchfork. Not too much or you disturb the composting layer.
You have to keep loading up the top layer. I add something every week. In the summer it’s litter materials, not shavings.
But I definitely add water to mine regularly in the summer.
Just keep an eye out for that mold and that may tell you you have too much moisture (compost) and not enough litter.

 

[Kathy Golla]

The other thought I had is perhaps switch off on the places you use your misters if possible? Did you find the moldy spot where the misters when it was hot wet the dlm down too much?

 

[micstrachan]

Haha! I’ve been digging WAY down and turning over huge pitchforks full. Should I not be doing that? What are your litter materials? I have rice hulls under the roosts and shavings on the floor.

And, yes, I will definitely move the misters around once it gets hot enough for them again.

 

[micstrachan]

Well, I think maybe Ruby was going into a weirdly timed molt. She seems completely fine, except for these feathers. No small feathers anywhere, but maybe someone’s eating them. No visible pin feathers... yet?

 

[Kathy Golla]

Same exact thing happening here with most of my hens.
First big molt happens between 16 and 18 mos and my hens are 17 mos.
I had a hen into the vet for her foot and the vet said big fluctuations in weather can cause a molt too.
She’s not broody, right? That causes a molt too.

 

[micstrachan]

Today I had some left over bath water from Margo (who is in bad shape) and thought I’d clean up Ruby, who had slightly soiled fluff feathers. I was horrified to discover an alarmingly red area. She’s been acting totally normal since not feeling well last month. Don’t think she’s laying, but she had dropped a lot of feathers, so I wasn’t too concerned.

 

[Kathy Golla]

Oh I have a hen that has this...I posted a long time ago about it. I’m going out the door but will post more.
I think my birds is from being irritated there.
Her feathers took a long time to grow back but they are grown back now.
The red looks alarming but I learned it really their skin it is very profuse right there.
Don’t put anything oily on it. Dirt will stick to it. If you think it looks sore spray vetricyn only.
Bottom line though my hen is just fine but has a bit of a chronic messy butt which contributes to it.