[Trisha]

My hen who I would have said was the boss has feather loss at the saddle and vent area.  I havent seen any pecking happening between any of them.  The four of them lay every day, are eating and drinking well and just finished a course of worming.

After being on antibiotics for a week they all had a thorough going over from a second vet who gave them a full bill of health.  Whilst there the four of them were sprayed with frontline as a precautionay measure, had there temperature taken, checked for lice/mites etc.

The hen with the feather loss is the biggest bird and is a light sussex.  The others are a black rock and two rhode island reds.  Any ideas as to what is causing this and what I should do. 

Until I get the proper advice, this morning I smeared vic on the areas due to it being greasy and smelly and all I had available.

Trish x

[joyfull]

Are they moulting?

[Trisha]

Are they moulting?

It is just the one bird with the feather loss so I am unsure whether she is just moulting as I wouldnt really know the difference to be honest.  There are no inflamed areas or wounds, would this point to a case of moulting?

[Topscaff]

Is there a cockerel in with them? I was told by a breeder that he would be doing this when he was treading them, I didn't now either until this morning I asked him when I picked up my new Welsummers as my other hens are suffering form this as well, hope this helps, Mike

[Trisha]

Is there a cockerel in with them? I was told by a breeder that he would be doing this when he was treading them, I didn't now either until this morning I asked him when I picked up my new Welsummers as my other hens are suffering form this as well, hope this helps, Mike

No Mike it is just the 4 girls I have.   

Two of my girls when I first got them had been hammered by the cockerel at their previous place and had quite a lot of feather and weight loss, but all the feathers have now grown back and they have put weight on and are wee barrels now.