hen missing tail feathers

  • 11 Replies
  • 5367 Views
*

claire130

  • Newbie
  • *
  • 3
hen missing tail feathers
« on: March 13, 2011, 18:33 »
hi i am new on here,  i have got six chichens but one has lost a patch of tail feathers
the chicken is eating and laying but wondered if this is normal,
any help would be greatful thankyou .

*

joyfull

  • Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: lincolnshire
  • 22168
    • Monarch Engineering Ltd
Re: hen missing tail feathers
« Reply #1 on: March 13, 2011, 18:40 »
Hi Claire and welcome.
Is the hen starting her moult? or is she being pecked by the others?
Staffies are softer than you think.

*

evie2

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: An exiled Scot in Derbyshire
  • 4387
Re: hen missing tail feathers
« Reply #2 on: March 13, 2011, 18:42 »
Hello Claire, welcome to the wonderful world of chicken keeping :D

Mine have only lost feathers through moult or pecking order but hang on a bit and someone will be along with good advice :D
May this day be blessed with gifts, understanding and friends.  Merlin 2001-2012 Pandora 2001-2013 xxx

*

claire130

  • Newbie
  • *
  • 3
Re: hen missing tail feathers
« Reply #3 on: March 13, 2011, 18:48 »
i dont no,is  it quite a patch, it is noticeable

*

Casey76

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Alsace, France
  • 3242
Re: hen missing tail feathers
« Reply #4 on: March 13, 2011, 19:26 »
Hi Claire, keep a watch out for your other chickens to see if they are pecking out the feathers.

Can you see any feathers lying around in the run?

If yes, then your hen is probably moulting, if no, then it is possible the other hens are eating the feathers (if they are picking them out).

Do you have any "purple spray" (gentian violet).  Spraying the bald patch should allay any repeat pecking at the skin

*

claire130

  • Newbie
  • *
  • 3
Re: hen missing tail feathers
« Reply #5 on: March 13, 2011, 19:54 »
 :)thank you all for your help

*

Sooz

  • Full Member
  • **
  • Location: Northants
  • 80
Re: hen missing tail feathers
« Reply #6 on: March 13, 2011, 20:13 »
One of mine had all her fluffy bottom feathers plucked out by her 'pals'.
I sprayed with purple spray, but it was like a red rag to a bull.  She was pecked all the more.  She had a bare bum all last year.  Then she went into moult and was a poor scaggy thing.  When her feathers started to grow back, she got her lovely fluffy bottom feathers back....but not for long.  One morning I let them out and she had a bare bum again!!
I'm not young enough to know everything!

*

Sassy

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: North Yorkshire
  • 2553
Re: hen missing tail feathers
« Reply #7 on: March 14, 2011, 08:32 »
It might be worth  checking her bottom for lice just in case. :blink:
Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted!!

*

Sooz

  • Full Member
  • **
  • Location: Northants
  • 80
Re: hen missing tail feathers
« Reply #8 on: March 15, 2011, 18:31 »
I've just pulled the poor girl about, looking for any visitors, but she has none....just 'coopmates' who like her fluffy feathers!!

*

Sassy

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: North Yorkshire
  • 2553
Re: hen missing tail feathers
« Reply #9 on: March 16, 2011, 07:48 »
That's good - I mean her not having visitors! ::)

*

ManicMum

  • Experienced Member
  • ***
  • Location: Norfolk
  • 406
Re: hen missing tail feathers
« Reply #10 on: March 16, 2011, 08:18 »
Has she got anywhere to hide away from the bullies?  Is their area/run interesting enough 'cos if not, this could be down to boredom.

Try making them work a bit harder for their extra food, put in logs to perch on, branches to explore, etc.  We have a small bit of old carpet on the earth which we shift around occasionally to provide a super-insect patch.  Also there are 2 or 3 pallets flat on the ground so they are challenged to get the weeds below (and it gives the weed roots a fighting chance to keep sending up shoots to keep the girls busy!)
ManicMum

*

Sooz

  • Full Member
  • **
  • Location: Northants
  • 80
Re: hen missing tail feathers
« Reply #11 on: March 18, 2011, 13:47 »
Try making them work a bit harder for their extra food, put in logs to perch on, branches to explore, etc.  We have a small bit of old carpet on the earth which we shift around occasionally to provide a super-insect patch.  Also there are 2 or 3 pallets flat on the ground so they are challenged to get the weeds below (and it gives the weed roots a fighting chance to keep sending up shoots to keep the girls busy!)

Both excellent ideas.  I'll give them a go.



xx
Tail feathers

Started by jonesblack on The Hen House

1 Replies
1519 Views
Last post February 26, 2010, 15:07
by Beano
xx
Chickens missing feathers..

Started by chloe on The Hen House

4 Replies
2065 Views
Last post May 15, 2011, 17:45
by chloe
xx
Missing neck feathers.

Started by Lardman on The Hen House

12 Replies
4010 Views
Last post June 25, 2009, 22:23
by mumsy
xx
Another thread about tail feathers!

Started by 300AJC on The Hen House

6 Replies
2161 Views
Last post June 01, 2012, 14:03
by kegs
 

Page created in 0.22 seconds with 40 queries.

Powered by SMFPacks Social Login Mod
Powered by SMFPacks SEO Pro Mod |