UPDATED! My hens look rough

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It takes time. Rome wasn't built in a day and neither are feathers.
Just make the adjustments you have and see what the results are in 2 or 3 weeks. Then tweak some more.
 
The veggies can't hurt but I'd eliminate the scratch for a while and the bread forever - too much salt and unless an extremely high quality whole grain product, it surely has too much sugar, preservatives and things one can't pronounce.
Stick with the grower feed and oyster shell on the side.
 
We've had some molting/picking/overmating/random baldness ranging through our flock since they started to lay. We've tried a variety of strategies to help the flock ... I don't really know if any of them work or not. It seems every breed goes through a rough batch at some point. The Silver Laced Wyandottes have spent the longest time with bald backs, but otherwise look pretty okay.

They have a lot of places to take dust baths, including one pit with wood ash and dust bath powder. Their coop is airy, they have a large outdoor space to get sunshine, bugs and fresh air. I got rid of most of the roosters -- now there are just 6 for my flock of 80+ hens -- one of those roosters lives in separately with his harem, and another is a bantam who doesn't get to do much mating. Their coop is huge and there are different rooms and different sized roosts and multiple feed and water stations and such to keep them entertained and give them places to hide when they want to be alone. I make sure everyone has access to grit so they can digest their food. I limit their treats. I provide a choice of grower ration along with the layer pellets (they always gobble the grower ration, but that might be because it is crumbles, which they love to eat and to waste). Nonetheless, my hens are looking rougher than ever at the moment. Sigh.

Next I'm going to try some probiotics.
 
Debs55 said:
Sounds like we are in the same boat. And it just keeps gettin worse
Click to expand...

One thing I forgot to mention that might help with some of the backside issues ... a few of my hens have gotten Dirty Butt Syndrome (poopy feathers, stinky, etc.) and for those girls I give them a bath in warm epsom salts water to clean their bottoms thoroughly, then treat their backsides with athlete's foot cream. I repeat that daily until they don't get gunked up or stink. It only takes a few days.

If there is any prolapse to go with the dirty butt syndrome (sometimes there is), then treat the prolapse with Preparation H.
 
Debs55 said:
Another update: I found two bare backed hens dead this morning
sad.png
no reasonable cause
Click to expand...

That's very sad.
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Maybe you can find a local old-timer chicken expert to come and take a look at the birds and your whole setup. Maybe they will be able to see something with fresh eyes.
 

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