Author Topic: Moulting or sick chicken? (Read 2448 times)

morri2 · « **on:** October 02, 2010, 05:19:32 pm »

Hi! One of my warrens has started losing feathers, lots of feathers. I've kept watch and she does not seem to be being picked on, or pecking them out herself. There are no signs of injury (peck marks and the like). I've seen her sitting a bit hunched up on occasions at intervals during the last couple of days, but she was still very hard to catch, so still lively. Having inspected her, there is no sign of any infestation but she does appear to be a bit on the thin side. There is no sign of her having diarrhea as her vent is clean and she is eating along with the others. Has anyone any idea what might be amiss here? Many thanks!

little blue · « **Reply #1 on:** October 02, 2010, 06:26:00 pm »

could just be a moult.
do they eat alot of maize/corn/oats? these will keep there body temp high
if she is hunched, be aware of coccidiosis ... ours showed no diarrhoea or anything, til they started dying (ok, some were quail chicks - you cant get much smaller!) but after medication we have had no further probs

bamford6 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 02, 2010, 07:30:08 pm »

poultrey spice boild eggs treat all will be well

morri2 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 03, 2010, 02:52:55 pm »

Thanks for the help guys! Just wondered if there is anything I can do to protect her from the winter as her feathers are so sparse. How quickly will they grow back? I'm concerned that winter is approaching and she'll suffer from the cold. I've never had a partially bald chicken until now, if she doesn't get anymore foliage between now and the cold weather setting in is there anything I must do to ensure she doesn't freeze to death - or are chickens reasonable immune to such things?

little blue · « **Reply #4 on:** October 03, 2010, 03:23:51 pm »

?knit her a little jacket?
there was a thing on the news a while back about people doing this for their ex-battery hens who were rather sparsely foliaged!