Hi.
I want to ask about my 2 year old hen "Hetty". We bought her 12 months ago as a broody and she successfully hatched 7 chicks for us which she now happily lives with as adults, one of which is a cockerel.
Whilst she was sitting she lost all her feathers on her underside which we thought would grow back. Gradually over a period of several months she has lost the feathers from her back and the front joint of her wings. Her underside feathers have never grown back either. She's still top dog within the flock so isn't getting bullied or picked on apart from the daily attention from the cockerel. She still seems perky, very active, has lots of energy, is still as inquisitive as ever and seems to be still laying, but no sign of any new feather growth underneath or on top.
I have seen evidence of red mites in the coop and so regularly dose to coop, perches and nest boxes with Diatom, as well as regularly dusting the birds feathers with it.
Her back is now very red almost like it's got sunburn which is probably what's causing the redness, as they do get let out regularly and we have had some very long sunny days recently.
I have picked her up and looked for signs of mites amongst her feathers but nothing is particularly evident. I know chickens do go through a moult every year but this condition has been going on for months now and doesn't look like a normal moult.
I did put a saddle on her during the winter months to keep her warm, but took it off in the spring.
So I'd welcome any comments and suggestions as to what I might try next, or should I just leave her alone as she seems happy enough as she is but just looks a bit odd.
Many thanks
Bob
I want to ask about my 2 year old hen "Hetty". We bought her 12 months ago as a broody and she successfully hatched 7 chicks for us which she now happily lives with as adults, one of which is a cockerel.
Whilst she was sitting she lost all her feathers on her underside which we thought would grow back. Gradually over a period of several months she has lost the feathers from her back and the front joint of her wings. Her underside feathers have never grown back either. She's still top dog within the flock so isn't getting bullied or picked on apart from the daily attention from the cockerel. She still seems perky, very active, has lots of energy, is still as inquisitive as ever and seems to be still laying, but no sign of any new feather growth underneath or on top.
I have seen evidence of red mites in the coop and so regularly dose to coop, perches and nest boxes with Diatom, as well as regularly dusting the birds feathers with it.
Her back is now very red almost like it's got sunburn which is probably what's causing the redness, as they do get let out regularly and we have had some very long sunny days recently.
I have picked her up and looked for signs of mites amongst her feathers but nothing is particularly evident. I know chickens do go through a moult every year but this condition has been going on for months now and doesn't look like a normal moult.
I did put a saddle on her during the winter months to keep her warm, but took it off in the spring.
So I'd welcome any comments and suggestions as to what I might try next, or should I just leave her alone as she seems happy enough as she is but just looks a bit odd.
Many thanks
Bob
