Whats good to promote feather growth?

[emvickrey]

Like dawg53 posted about too much protein. I don't want to cause her anymore problems. But I do want her to get her feathers back as fast as possible. As far as what she's been eating, all the layers get the same thing. I mixe a little scratch in with the layer feed for a treat and for them to gain a little more weight in the winter. I've never had a chicken go nearly bare before. I really don't think it's her diet. Her sister didn't go bare, it was just wear from the roo where she did get bare and her feathers are nearly back already. the hen that is a year older then the sisters is still growing her feathers back but she was just a little more bare than the second sister.

I have thursday I can go to get the seeds to start sprouts. I already give them vegetable scraps. DH works at the local CO-OP and i'm sure he can get some wheat seeds since that is a big seller around here. The BOSS, can that be found in the wild bird seen area? I think i've seen it if thats where it's usually kept. I've read alot that many others feed theirs BOSS also so it would be a good thing to keep around for treats for them all.

Thanks for all the advice all of you. This is why I love this site. Most everybody is so helpful and willing to give advice and help each other out instead of accuse and critisize.

Again, thank you all and i'll keep updating as she progresses. Maybe it will help somebody else with the same situation.

 

[they'reHISchickens]

It is entirely possible that the one who is molting the worst is your best layer. The laying has taken the most wear and tear on her. The older hen isn't likely laying as much so isn't a rough-looking. In a given flock there will be many variations of molt from barely none to featherless.

 

[emvickrey]

I learn something new all the time. Only my sizzles are getting the wear from the roo. The other pens the hens don't look ridden at all. Would that mean the roo is to large for the hens? He is a good sized silkie. He's not huge but compared to the hens he is. I'll be switching roos soon anyway, I always do with the sizzles.

 

[K-12 Chickens]

When both of my SLW were getting their backs pecked to the point of a completely bare back and rear end, I fitted a saddle to one of them and eventually feathers grew back

(it takes a while, like a few months, but it's worth it!). The other one I fitted a saddle later on and all her feathers grew back at once, making her back look grey from all the pin feathers! On occasion I feed my hens canned catfood for protein and they love it! One time when I did, one of my SLW feathers grew back at an amazing rate(the next day or so you could see growth). I usually feed them canned catfood a few times a month or less.

 

[emvickrey]

Thought I would post an update. Moe has pin feathers

She's been geting the royal chicken treatment and finally it's paying off. She's getting her feathers back. She has several feeding dishes in her cage and she just refuses to stop laying. She's gotten so spoiled she raises cain till I come to see what it is she wants NOW. Once she lays her egg she wants it removed right away. If one of her feeding dishes is empty she wants it filled NOW. Thats ok. She gets her feathers back and she's going back out NOW. lol

I switch off what goes in her food dishes. She has layer in the big one and oyster shell in one and b.o.s.s in one and when the b.o.s.s. is gone i'll tive her some tuna or spinach, applesauce, cooked rice. And I put a drop of vitamins in her water.

 

[Btruax]

Like dawg53 posted about too much protein. I don't want to cause her anymore problems. But I do want her to get her feathers back as fast as possible. As far as what she's been eating, all the layers get the same thing. I mixe a little scratch in with the layer feed for a treat and for them to gain a little more weight in the winter. I've never had a chicken go nearly bare before. I really don't think it's her diet. Her sister didn't go bare, it was just wear from the roo where she did get bare and her feathers are nearly back already. the hen that is a year older then the sisters is still growing her feathers back but she was just a little more bare than the second sister.

I have thursday I can go to get the seeds to start sprouts. I already give them vegetable scraps. DH works at the local CO-OP and i'm sure he can get some wheat seeds since that is a big seller around here. The BOSS, can that be found in the wild bird seen area? I think i've seen it if thats where it's usually kept. I've read alot that many others feed theirs BOSS also so it would be a good thing to keep around for treats for them all.

Thanks for all the advice all of you. This is why I love this site. Most everybody is so helpful and willing to give advice and help each other out instead of accuse and critisize.

Again, thank you all and i'll keep updating as she progresses. Maybe it will help somebody else with the same situation.

It does help, thank you and everyone who contributed advice. I have 3 that were almost bald, molt is making them fill in now, even the worst one has new pin feathers all over.
One question though......
If feathers are reduced to quills, on wings/tail, will the old quills regen, fall out, or will new ones grow around them? The worst of them has the "cactus" look on wings and tail. Thanks everyone!
Oh btw, CONGRATS MOE!!