Stumped on Feather Loss/Damage. I've Tried Everything I Can Think Of. Help Needed.

[NanaK]

Good Luck! Let us know how it goes. It could also help someone else in the future who may stumble upon this thread looking for answers.

 

[TwoCrows]

Very true points all around. I live in the high desert plateau of SW Idaho and it is a very unique ecosystem and microclimate. I've only been here 3 years and I've never lived in a place like this. Wild and beautiful, yet harsh and unforgiving on animals and plants. This is our first flock and it's been a blast for myself and the family. We got our birds from a respected local hatchery, and other than this, they have been healthy and happy birds. Lots of room, free range, garden treats and scraps, and just well cared for birds.

I have been getting our layer feed from a local grain farm that has organic, high quality feed. They too have a good reputation amongst hen keepers. I tried some of the big company feeds, like Purina and others that they sell at Tractor Supply or D&B, and our young birds would eat it, but did not seem to prefer it. We switched to our current supplier and they seem much happier. I also give them black soldier fly larvae daily that I get on Amazon.

I am concerned that the cold weather will stress the birds and whatever this is will wear them down. Also concerned about the feather loss and them losing heat during the cold nights. They are enclosed in a barn stall so there is a temperature differential of about 10 degrees so it should keep it above freezing most nights.

I'll keep at it. Still need to do some scrapings for a microscope slide sample and then wait on the sulfur solution.

Thanks again for all the comments and suggestions.

Sounds like they are on a good feed, stick with what they like for sure. Barn stalls are nice in that they close off moving air. Are they roosting on the ground? If not you might bed the floor deep in grass hay and let them sleep there. The floor is warmer and they will waste less energy not having to balance and such, saving calories. They should be fine with the cold having grown up in your environment. However any weak or sick bird should be offered supplemental heat. Other than infra red bulbs, you can use panel heaters which are very safe around hay if elevated, electric radiant heaters, even a hospital cage with a blanket thrown over top to conserve their own heat.

I live in the mountains of New Mexico, we have so much mildew and yeasty ground/dirt, its crazy. So many crop yeasts, its a constant problem.

 

[TwoCrows]

Also... whenever I have sick or weak birds, I turn to not only the probiotics but a vitamin supplement. No matter how good a feed is, these manufacturers only put in the bare minimum amounts. Sick birds need therapeutic levels of everything. You might use some "Poultry Cell" several times a week, it will really help boost their immune systems. Animal protein as well, a must for molting birds, especially ones that are weaker, it contains high amounts of amino acids which are responsible for production of red blood cells, cell health and reproduction of new cells, all the building blocks of life in animal proteins. Makes for beautiful feather growth, so you might cook up some low fat ground turkey or beef, a teaspoon per bird a day for a few weeks may do them wonders too.

 

[TwoCrows]

And one last thing....

This may sound strange however it is not totally unheard of even here in our Quail section on BYC, rats have been known to kill baby and adult quail at night. Other small poultry as well. So it's not totally impossible that rats or even bats are feasting on your birds at night. Blood is a very tempting and sustainable source of food and molting birds are all blood feathers. This might explain the ragged look of the chewed off feathers. This would definitely drain a bird to death over time. If you think maybe this is a possiblity, you might install a night cam in their sleeping quarters to see what might be going on.

 

[Captain Jack Sparrow]

And one last thing....

This may sound strange however it is not totally unheard of even here in our Quail section on BYC, rats have been known to kill baby and adult quail at night. Other small poultry as well. So it's not totally impossible that rats or even bats are feasting on your birds at night. Blood is a very tempting and sustainable source of food and molting birds are all blood feathers. This might explain the ragged look of the chewed off feathers. This would definitely drain a bird to death over time. If you think maybe this is a possiblity, you might install a night cam in their sleeping quarters to see what might be going on.

That's a disturbing thought for certain. I know we have field mice every now and then, but I have a bucket trap for them in several areas of the barn and that really keeps them in check. Do I have rats? I don't think so, and I know they are around, but I would be surprised if they are actually active in the barn right now. I do have remote cameras that I can set up and see what's going on at night while they are roosting.
It has been miserable cold here over the last few weeks. We finally got some temps in the 40's, so I'm going to go out with my daughter tonight and grab some birds and try a sulphur treatment on the worst looking of the bunch. I have some Bonide Sulphur dust that I have mixed with some warm water and VetRx that I am thinking of spraying on those aggravated bare skin areas. I also have some loaded up in a duster to get the vent areas, under the wings, and the back of the neck.
Poor girls are not looking great, but hopefully I can start treating them without giving them frostbite and freezing them to death.
Thanks again for all your thoughts and suggestions.

 

[ellen60]

Hi, my flock is coming up on 2 years old this February. Yes, they did a normal molt this year. This is not molting. I have watched them outside and they do not appear to be pecking one another. This starts the same way with every bird and is too consistent I think to be anything other than a disease. Starts right below their lobes, goes down the neck, and up the head. Just bare red raw skin with some scabbing in areas. I'll try to send some more pictures when I can get out there and grab a bird or two. It's so cold now that I hesitate to do another spanosid treatment, but another poster said this could be a fungus and I do have some anti-fungal spray I could apply to a couple of birds and see what happens.
Very bizarre.

I have 13 chickens and and it sounds as though this is what is going on with 1 of my cochin hens.
Did you resolve this? How?
E
We are in Northern Michigan and it is still cold here. I have started treating her for mites, etc with a spray I picked up at TSC but I don't see see anything on her.