Weight loss, feather loss

[CMcGrath71]

Hi Everyone, one of my chickens, Georgia, has been losing weight for a while. She has been eating and behaving normally, although she is careful to not eat too close to the other birds, as she is the lowest hen in the pecking order (out of 5 birds). I have seen her get pecked when she is eating too close to one of the higher ranking chickens. She is also missing some neck feathers--which I think is happening at night when the chickens roost (someone pecking at/plucking them). She does not have any injuries or blood on her skin, which is good. I started using a spray on her to prevent that about a week ago. Their coop and run is ridiculously big (plenty of room for 5 birds) and I have multiple food stations. I do let them free range when I and/or my dog can supervise.

We had terrible flooding damage with Hurricane Irene, but the chicken coop survived. I checked on the girls throughout the night, and saw that they were huddled together in a corner of the roost. Since that day (last Wednesday), Georgia has been losing a LOT of feathers (they are all over the coop and run). I picked her up today and she felt even lighter than usual.

I guess my question is, does this sound like stress, bullying, molting, a health condition (worms) or all three? A side note: I did think I may have seen some movement in another chicken's poo a while back, but I have never treated the flock for worms. I had bought Valbazen a while back, just in case, but never had the poo tested or used it. Maybe I should.

The girls are all 17 months old.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you!

 

[Aunt Angus]

Hi! So glad you all survived that hurricane!

That many feathers leads me to think she's molting, which could cause weight loss. But it could be all 3, right? The stress of the hurricane, the stress of being picked on, and maybe not eating as much as a result of those first 2 situations. But it could be an illness, too, which can pop up when a bird is experiencing stress. Or it could be illness causing the weight and feather loss.

Gahh! Chickens can be so hard to figure out...

I'd be tempted to bring her inside for observation. You can check her crop first thing in the morning to make sure it's emptying overnight, and check poop for worms, too. Give her a good looking over and some TLC.

 

[CMcGrath71]

Hi! So glad you all survived that hurricane!

That many feathers leads me to think she's molting, which could cause weight loss. But it could be all 3, right? The stress of the hurricane, the stress of being picked on, and maybe not eating as much as a result of those first 2 situations. But it could be an illness, too, which can pop up when a bird is experiencing stress. Or it could be illness causing the weight and feather loss.

Gahh! Chickens can be so hard to figure out...

I'd be tempted to bring her inside for observation. You can check her crop first thing in the morning to make sure it's emptying overnight, and check poop for worms, too. Give her a good looking over and some TLC.

Thanks Aunt Angus! It is hard to figure out for sure! I was a little worried that if I kept her separate from the other chickens that she might get picked on MORE when she's reintroduced! I've read that--if it's a bullying issue--to isolate the bully. But she gets picked on by most of the chickens, not just one. I'd be worried about making that situation worse. Gahh! Indeed!

 

[Aunt Angus]

Thanks Aunt Angus! It is hard to figure out for sure! I was a little worried that if I kept her separate from the other chickens that she might get picked on MORE when she's reintroduced! I've read that--if it's a bullying issue--to isolate the bully. But she gets picked on by most of the chickens, not just one. I'd be worried about making that situation worse. Gahh! Indeed!

I have that chicken, too - the bottom of the order gal. She gets picked on by everyone except the new chicks. But I'm sure they'll join in, too, eventually.

I imagine if she's already way down there, it ain't gonna get worse. And if it's illness, you'll want to separate her, anyway. You can try separating her with one other chicken, one that maybe doesn't bully her quite as much.

For my gal, I'm going to get her some chicks to foster if she ever goes broody. That way she'll have her own little gang - haha!

 

[CMcGrath71]

I have that chicken, too - the bottom of the order gal. She gets picked on by everyone except the new chicks. But I'm sure they'll join in, too, eventually.

I imagine if she's already way down there, it ain't gonna get worse. And if it's illness, you'll want to separate her, anyway. You can try separating her with one other chicken, one that maybe doesn't bully her quite as much.

For my gal, I'm going to get her some chicks to foster if she ever goes broody. That way she'll have her own little gang - haha!

I checked on Georgia tonight and gave her a good thorough examination. Looks like she has lost/is loosing A LOT of feathers throughout her body...which would suggest molting. I'm hoping that's the case. Going to try separating her for feeding to give her some supplemental protein...but she doesn't seem sick otherwise, so I don't know that I need to fully separate her from the rest of the flock.

I probably should have her poo tested to see if she is dealing with a worm load also.

Aunt Angus, I love the idea of getting a broody hen some chicks to foster--I didn't even know that was something you could do! How does that work?

 

[Aunt Angus]

I checked on Georgia tonight and gave her a good thorough examination. Looks like she has lost/is loosing A LOT of feathers throughout her body...which would suggest molting. I'm hoping that's the case. Going to try separating her for feeding to give her some supplemental protein...but she doesn't seem sick otherwise, so I don't know that I need to fully separate her from the rest of the flock.

I probably should have her poo tested to see if she is dealing with a worm load also.

Aunt Angus, I love the idea of getting a broody hen some chicks to foster--I didn't even know that was something you could do! How does that work?

It's the time of year for molting. I hope that's all it is, too!

As for broodies and adopting, I wait until I know the hen is serious about setting - like after a week or so. I leave fake eggs under her.

I always buy the youngest chicks I can from a feed store because I don't want any more roosters. You can order them or get some from a breeder. It seems to work better with younger chicks, from what I've read.

I wait until it is very dark - after 10pm - and I sneak out to the coop with the babies. I keep it completely dark - no flashlight or anything.

I slip the babies one at a time under her backside. I take the fake eggs out, too. I sit there for a while and listen. If I hear happy mama clucks and happy baby peeps, then I usually leave them until morning.

If the hen starts to peck them aggressively, I take the babies out and try again a couple of hours later or the next night.

If I feel that I can leave them, I go back out early in the morning, usually before dawn, and check to see that they are still under mama. If they are huddled on the other side of the coop, I take the babies out and try again the next night. But if everyone is still making happy noises, I leave them and check on them frequently throughout the day.

I just did this a little over a month ago, and my Silkie hen is raising a Lavender Orpington, a Turken, and an Appenzeller Spitzhauben.

I learned how to do this on BYC. Lots of folks have done this successfully, but it doesn't always work. Sometimes the hen rejects the chicks, so you have to be prepared to raise them in a brooder if things don't work out.

 

[CMcGrath71]

It's the time of year for molting. I hope that's all it is, too!

As for broodies and adopting, I wait until I know the hen is serious about setting - like after a week or so. I leave fake eggs under her.

I always buy the youngest chicks I can from a feed store because I don't want any more roosters. You can order them or get some from a breeder. It seems to work better with younger chicks, from what I've read.

I wait until it is very dark - after 10pm - and I sneak out to the coop with the babies. I keep it completely dark - no flashlight or anything.

I slip the babies one at a time under her backside. I take the fake eggs out, too. I sit there for a while and listen. If I hear happy mama clucks and happy baby peeps, then I usually leave them until morning.

If the hen starts to peck them aggressively, I take the babies out and try again a couple of hours later or the next night.

If I feel that I can leave them, I go back out early in the morning, usually before dawn, and check to see that they are still under mama. If they are huddled on the other side of the coop, I take the babies out and try again the next night. But if everyone is still making happy noises, I leave them and check on them frequently throughout the day.

I just did this a little over a month ago, and my Silkie hen is raising a Lavender Orpington, a Turken, and an Appenzeller Spitzhauben.

I learned how to do this on BYC. Lots of folks have done this successfully, but it doesn't always work. Sometimes the hen rejects the chicks, so you have to be prepared to raise them in a brooder if things don't work out.

That is so cool! I can't wait to try it.

 

[Aunt Angus]

That is so cool! I can't wait to try it.

Be sure to let us know how it goes when you do!

How is Georgis doing???

 

[CMcGrath71]

Be sure to let us know how it goes when you do!

How is Georgis doing???

I definitely will!

In the meantime, Miss Georgia continues to drop a LOT of feathers and looks skinny and pathetic. But she's eating like a champ and seems to be okay. I did see her sleeping on a roost by herself one night this week--so maybe she is isolating a bit to avoid getting picked on. I used to have another little bottom of the pecking order chicken who did the same, but she got eaten by a hawk, so now Georgia is taking on that role.

I am actually now also worried about my Barred Rock, who I noticed about 2 weeks ago was missing some feathers under her vent. Now, her whole belly is bare. Is it possible for a molt to start that way? She is still totally full feathered on top! I have checked all the girls for lice/mites and the coop at night for mites (several times!) and don't see any indication. I would prefer not to treat if I don't need to. Hoping it's just a weird molt!

 

[Aunt Angus]

I definitely will!

In the meantime, Miss Georgia continues to drop a LOT of feathers and looks skinny and pathetic. But she's eating like a champ and seems to be okay. I did see her sleeping on a roost by herself one night this week--so maybe she is isolating a bit to avoid getting picked on. I used to have another little bottom of the pecking order chicken who did the same, but she got eaten by a hawk, so now Georgia is taking on that role.

I am actually now also worried about my Barred Rock, who I noticed about 2 weeks ago was missing some feathers under her vent. Now, her whole belly is bare. Is it possible for a molt to start that way? She is still totally full feathered on top! I have checked all the girls for lice/mites and the coop at night for mites (several times!) and don't see any indication. I would prefer not to treat if I don't need to. Hoping it's just a weird molt!

Molts seem to start depending on the bird, ime. Sounds like you've got molters. When my birds molt, I try to up their protein for a bit.