Winter help for bald frizzle hen

[savannahchickmom]

I wound up buying a tiny frizzle hen who I thought was in desperate need of TLC. As it turns out, "Pretty Girl" is probably the product of frizzlexfrizzle breeding. She is almost completely bald on her back, and her stomach & legs are spotty. I am afraid she will get frostbite this winter. Any suggestions? She is small for a banty cochin even. Would a hen saddle help keep her warm? Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated. I don't use heat lamps, but may have to start in her coop. Thank you, in advance, for any suggestions!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

How old is it. I have found they generally will grow their feathers in before winter gets too cold. I have seen where some people have knitted sweaters for them, but that's not practical without daily maintenance, and a constant need to check for external parasites.

I see you are in Missouri which doesn't get that cold so she should be fine in a good insulated coop. Chickens generally don't start getting really cold until temperatures fall below -teens.

I have had a frazzle and it was almost naked at the end of summer but grew it's feathers back during the fall molt.

Do you have a rooster wearing the feathers off of her? That might require separating him out, to keep her feathers in better conditions.

 

[savannahchickmom]

I got her this spring, and she was full grown. So, no idea on age. She was broody in May or June & hatched 2 chicks from my Marans. I kept her separated from the roos all summer & fed her Nutrena Feather Fixer. When I got her, she was almost completely bald, so she has improved, just never on her poor back.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Hopefully she will still grow them in. Some of mine haven't even started molting yet.

 

[Natanya]

Chicken sweaters are a thing. As are chicken capes.
https://www.themarysue.com/chicken-sweaters/

 

[savannahchickmom]

I did think about those! Did not know if anyone actually USED them though. Interesting...
I may need to look for a crochet or sewing pattern. My knitting skills are very poor. Thank you for sending this!

 

[adrikeen]

I had the same exact problem with two of my Frizzles and freaked out the first winter they did this. I agree Natanya however, depending on how small your Frizzles are (mine were micro mini), it may be hard to do a sweater. I actually bought human preemie snap tops and cut the arms to wing size. It did work (if nothing else to give me peace of mind). The next year their bodies reworked their molting schedule and they molted in Fall and then had feathers by winter weather.