I don't know how to post pictures yet so I will just direct you to the blogpost I just put up. My hens have looked like this since most the summer. Most of them look better now, but I still have two with this rawness. We treated with DE several times. Some people have said its a really nasty molt, others said it was mites (although we cleaned and treated and cleaned and never saw them...), others have said "Um, I don't know...that's REALLY weird. What do you all think?
Amy I have a couple of hens (one in particular) that looks just like that. All the other gals look fine. I have picked up & inspected each hen & do not see any sign of lice or anything. I can only guess that the others are "picking" at her at night. I have 20 hens & 18 look great, but 2 look...well...."Road hard & hung out wet"
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts
Posted - Jul 28 2011 : 10:31:12 PM
i had a whole post for you and hit the wrong button.LOL i need to sleep. i will give you my humble opinion in the morning. but for nw i vots molting. happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm farm girl #1014
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts
Posted - Jul 29 2011 : 07:24:54 AM
well as i said i bet its molting. usually if the diet is lower in protein it can take a long time. feathers are 16 percent protein. if they have to eat live and grow a feather up the protein. this helps them move through the molt. the feathers will fall out in sections. in their natural habitat they molt then migrate. some meat or higher protein and some fat would help.it can take months to go through a molt. they usually do not lay at this time. if they are then they really need more protein. just my humble opinion. happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm farm girl #1014
Molting or something else?
Posted - Jul 28 2011 : 7:06:13 PM
