Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: claire130 on March 13, 2011, 18:33

Title: hen missing tail feathers
Post by: claire130 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 .

Title: Re: hen missing tail feathers
Post by: joyfull on March 13, 2011, 18:40

Hi Claire and welcome.
Is the hen starting her moult? or is she being pecked by the others?

Title: Re: hen missing tail feathers
Post by: evie2 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

Title: Re: hen missing tail feathers
Post by: claire130 on March 13, 2011, 18:48

i dont no,is  it quite a patch, it is noticeable

Title: Re: hen missing tail feathers
Post by: Casey76 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

Title: Re: hen missing tail feathers
Post by: claire130 on March 13, 2011, 19:54

 :)thank you all for your help

Title: Re: hen missing tail feathers
Post by: Sooz 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!!

Title: Re: hen missing tail feathers
Post by: Sassy on March 14, 2011, 08:32

It might be worth  checking her bottom for lice just in case. :blink:

Title: Re: hen missing tail feathers
Post by: Sooz 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!!

Title: Re: hen missing tail feathers
Post by: Sassy on March 16, 2011, 07:48

That's good - I mean her not having visitors! ::)

Title: Re: hen missing tail feathers
Post by: ManicMum 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!)

Title: Re: hen missing tail feathers
Post by: Sooz on March 18, 2011, 13:47

Quote from: ManicMum on March 16, 2011, 08:18

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.