Baldy hen

Hi,

I have 5 ex-batts.  One of them was exceptionally small, bald and runty when she arrived.  She has never grown a full coat of feathers (I've had this particular one for a year).  She grew some new feathers but has always retained 3 bald areas.  I would put it down to diet yet the other 4 have feathered up so well I can't tell them apart from my 2 rhode island hens.  On returning from holiday she looks worse than usual.  Although she is at the bottom of the pecking order the hens usually rub along okay and I haven't seen the others actively pecking her.

They are fed on smallholder layers pellets.  I've bought some daily tonic for the water that says it helps with moulting to see if that peps her up.  I've also got some verm-x to rule out internal parasites.

Apart from looking hideous, she is a very active, normally and perky hen.

Any ideas what else I can do or is she just destined to be the runt forever?

I would try spraying the hen with purple spray (the bald bits not the whole hen)  This worked for a rescue hen that we took in that was not initially accepted by our hens.  Whilst the bald bits dont look pleasant if the hens aren't drawing blood it is unlikely to harm her as she will keep warm enough in this weather, so wouldn't personally bother with a coat

It is literally called purple spray and is available from suppliers of hen food.  I think it is gentian violet in an aerosol so acts as an antiseptic but the purple colour is said to put hens off pecking (they are said to be attracted to red and will keep pecking if they see blood but are put off by purple for some reason.  It certainly seems to work with my hens (and Quail), better than the anti peck spray which just tastes bad

Thank you for the advice - I have a lovely purple hen   Clashes with the ginger!

Two different sets of neighbours thought I had some sort of rare breed purple hen 

I've always kept my hens free range which means they can get away from each other if there is a problem. Over the years I occasionally get one hen that when she gets to approx 2 years old their feathers start to look very tatty and threadbare. I'm almost certain it's because they are excellent layers. Of course I have no scientific proof only many years of observation. You may well find that this little lady is one of these birds. I would avoid jackets etc as it can create problems with red mite living under them right next to the skin. I've always found that my scruffy birds do just fine even in cold weather.

Orchardlady

yes it is the same purple spray as for horses.

I wouldn't use a jacket - if the hen gets wet I think it would get very chilled!!