Why are my hens bare?

[chiknewbie]

Today my son and I went to a livestock auction and bought three laying hens. They are in pretty rough shape. They are missing the feathers on their back, bottom and even their legs. I'm not sure if they were attacked by other chickens (or something else), if they are molting or if this is a pest or a disease.

Can anyone tell me what I should be looking for so that I can figure out what is wrong and hopefully get them healthy again?

 

[JesBarthel]

Pics?

 

[chiknewbie]

Here are some pics. They look pretty rough and I'm not sure what to do. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[JesBarthel]

Any idea how old they might be? They do look pretty rough Does the bare skin look red or irritated at all?

 

[chiknewbie]

I have no idea how old they are. They don't provide that info at the auction. Unfortunately I didn't have an opportunity to look at them up close prior to the auction and I only saw one of them very quickly before the bidding started.

But now that I have them I want to give them the best chance possible.

The skin doesn't look particularly red or irritated. One of them appears to be missing most of it's tail feathers though.

 

[graciesmum]

I took on an ex battery hen that looked rough llike yours, she was with a roo before i had her, and I think she was his favourite, this is her now only 4 weeks later

 

[barbiegirl]

Maybe the others that they were kept with pecked them and pulled the feathers out. Maybe i's mites or lice. I don't know, good luck with them.

 

[JesBarthel]

I wonder if they were pack together with a lot of other birds for a while. I would bet, based on the places they're bare, they were probably picked on by others. Just make sure they stay clean and dry, have plenty of space, and don't start picking at eachother. If any of them develop any sores, the others chickens will unfortunately pick at it relentlessly You can add vitamins to their water, and give them extra treats like scrambled eggs or mealworms to increase their protein intake, which will hopefully help grow their feathers back

 

[chiknewbie]

I wonder if they were pack together with a lot of other birds for a while. I would bet, based on the places they're bare, they were probably picked on by others. Just make sure they stay clean and dry, have plenty of space, and don't start picking at eachother. If any of them develop any sores, the others chickens will unfortunately pick at it relentlessly You can add vitamins to their water, and give them extra treats like scrambled eggs or mealworms to increase their protein intake, which will hopefully help grow their feathers back

Thanks. I was thinking it was probably something like that. They were probably at the bottom of the pecking order and that's why they were being sold. Thanks for the advice about the scrambled eggs. I'll be keeping and eye on them to make sure they aren't picking at each other.

 

[chiknewbie]

I took on an ex battery hen that looked rough llike yours, she was with a roo before i had her, and I think she was his favourite, this is her now only 4 weeks later

Did you do anything in particular? Special diet, medication, home remedies? I'm hoping with time they will heal and, of course, start laying.