The updated pictures of my skin/feather problem post last night

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okay...my first thought was that the other hens were pecking the butts of the two black hens. I just started to worry when I saw the feather loss on the RIR. The two black hens have very red skin where the feathers are missing--maybe it is sunburned. The RIR still has a lot of feather and petticoat and the skin is not red yet. I don't see any scabs or irritation on her---just feathers misses as if someone plucked them! I looked for lice today and did not see anything.

Maybe if I put one of those saddles on them it would grow back? Where do I get a couple of these? I really have to do something---my kids say it grosses them out and I don't want them to avoid my ladies!!

 

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One other thought---the two black Acuna hens are a small bread and they are in a flock of heavy set RIR, NH and Buffs....And, I just realized that the RIR that is beginning to lose some feathers on the top by her tail and her butt is the SMALLEST of the others.

Maybe this is a pecking order thing....gross....I want them to stop!! Can I put something on their butts to make it taste bad to the other chickens???

 

[TundraChick]

This is interesting. I have 3 EE's and all are missing the outer feathers on the breast and rear. The down is there. Its been awhile, I thought maybe it was a weird molt but the outer feathers have not returned. I have 5 other chickens in that pen of other breeds and none show an feather loss.

 

[barjd6]

We just added the two black australorps this morning. They are definitely not the low level outcasts that the Araucanas are, all ready. The Auracana hen with missing feathers should be kind of dark bronze color. Other hen takes a swipe/peck at her in passing. The rooster is fairly mannerly and the other hens will just thump her if she gets close. We've only had her a week; I don't know how long feathers take.

She eats and drinks very well. She has figured out that she can get into the house and at the feeder by herself. She makes the most of that. She had pretty loose stool, but we thought this might be connected to different food and water and stress. She stands up and walks around proud, but on the fringes of the group, always ready to duck and run. We have more than one place for food and water. I think she was pretty stressed and dehydrated when we brought her home. We probably shouldn't have chosen her, but I don't know if she would have lasted long in the cage if we hadn't.

 

[millefleur]

Note: what is not explained in this post is that roosters have favorite hens and when they breed with her they stand on her back and sometimes will pull out feathers with their feet and talons as they do this. If this is done a lot, very favorite hens will have a bald spot above their rump. It is not usually because a rooster picks at her feathers, although if a hen is lowest in the pecking order, sometimes everyone will peck at her, especially if she has any broken skin. Try separating a hen with more than usual feather loss from the flock and see if the feathers grow back.

Other things that cause feather loss: molting and mites. Time and good nutrition will take care of molting. Diotomaceous earth (DE) will take care of mites (organically and safely).

 

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okay...we are going to clean our coop, disinfective with 1:10 bleach, and then dust with seven and put back the shavings with some DE.....

Then I'll give them some vitamins in their water in case they are run down from mites (didn't see any but did see the chicken pecking at herself so maybe they are itching)

But I can most certainly tell that my RIR is losing feathers around the tail and her petticoat--went from one spot yesterday to the whole area looking like it is ready to fall out. Some of the skin is turning red now too--just like the black ones!

This is horrible!! (I guess I better read about molting but seems like that wouldn't occur just around the tail and butt would it? )

Thanks for ya'lls help!!

 

[barjd6]

The araucana hen is getting her feathers back on her rear. She still looks like a little emu, but we can see feathers coming.

They all love the sunflower seeds.