Sick Chicken - What is wrong? - Help!

[Chicken Lover!]

Hi everyone,
One of my three chickens is losing lots of feathers all over, her comb is drooping and she is acting slightly different. Does anyone have any ideas about what is wrong? Any cures?
Thank you for your help - all replies are greatly appreciated.

 

[Joyschickens]

Could you share your chickens age, breed and explain what "acting slightly different" means - is she lethargic? eating? drinking? poop normal? Any pictures of the drooping comb? Where are you located? Those with more experience on the forum will most likely want this information.
I am sure one of the great people on this site will be able to help you - wishing you the best.

 

[dawg53]

Feather loss can be several things; molt, which occurs about once a year is normal in fall and winter. Birds may have mini molts as well which can occur at about any time of the year.
Chickens can pick/peck on the lowest chicken in the pecking order which can cause feather loss. If feathers arnt on the ground, that means one or more are eating the feathers. Increasing protein in the diet will stop feather picking if that's the case unless it's flock wide. Then the feather pickers should be culled before it gets out of hand.
External parasites can cause feather loss due to excess scratching and picking feathers off themselves. Inspect your birds closely for lice and/or mites especially the vent area where it's warm and moist. If they dirt bathe constantly, look for external parasites.

 

[Brahmachicken240]

Most likely just going through a molt, got any photos ?

 

[Chicken Lover!]

Could you share your chickens age, breed and explain what "acting slightly different" means - is she lethargic? eating? drinking? poop normal? Any pictures of the drooping comb? Where are you located? Those with more experience on the forum will most likely want this information.
I am sure one of the great people on this site will be able to help you - wishing you the best.

•••
Thank you for your response. We are unsure of the breed, but she is about 2 years old and is on the top of her pecking order (ruling out pecking from other birds). By saying she is acting different, she is no longer excited to freely run around the backyard (usually, all chickens will almost be jumping over eachother to get outside. Now, she doesn’t really care). She also has diarrhoea in her poo. She is eating and drinking normally. Her feathers are being lost on her neck and on her tail.
We live in Sydney, Australia so it is nearly the end of Summer (It sometimes gets to 40° Celsius during this season).



I will add a photo tomorrow of her tomorrow

 

[Chicken Lover!]

Most likely just going through a molt, got any photos ?

Will add a photo tomorrow

 

[Chicken Lover!]

Feather loss can be several things; molt, which occurs about once a year is normal in fall and winter. Birds may have mini molts as well which can occur at about any time of the year.
Chickens can pick/peck on the lowest chicken in the pecking order which can cause feather loss. If feathers arnt on the ground, that means one or more are eating the feathers. Increasing protein in the diet will stop feather picking if that's the case unless it's flock wide. Then the feather pickers should be culled before it gets out of hand.
External parasites can cause feather loss due to excess scratching and picking feathers off themselves. Inspect your birds closely for lice and/or mites especially the vent area where it's warm and moist. If they dirt bathe constantly, look for external parasites.

Thank you for your help!
She is on the top of the pecking order so it wouldn’t be picking from other birds. We put apple cider vinegar in the water to prevent mites but will see if that is the cause.
Once again, thank you so much

 

[dawg53]

Apple cider vinegar wont prevent mites or other external parasites, nor internal parasites.
You have to visually inspect for external parasites and treat accordingly with a pesticide, liquid or powder. You would also have to treat the inside of the coop including nest boxes and roosts.

 

[Eggcessive]

Since you are heading into fall in Australia, then I would guess that molt might be what is going on. Pictures can help, but they frequently will loss tail feathers, then clumps o feathers around the neck, and an overall scruffy appearance. Mine eat less, and act more aloof during molt. It can be helpful to offer some high protein treats such as scrambled egg, tuna, or ground meat.

When you can grab her especially after dark on the roost, make sure that her crop has food in it, but empties by early morning. Feel her breastbone for weight loss, and look for lice or mites.

 

[Chicken Lover!]

Thank you Eggcessive and dawg53 Your help is appreciated. Will add photos shortly.