Chook owners... i need your help please :_|

[janeababe]

:_|  My Mrs Brown is losing all her feathers...rapidly!

Started today, and i dont know why!

She doesnt appear stressed, or ill. Still happily wandering around the back yard with Mrs Black, and the dog!

(all good mates)

They both have been off the lay this week, and also last week we found that there was a rat hanging around (& eating the eggs), which we got rid of, so i dont think it has anything to do with that!

Both my girls are free range with food scraps and mixed grain. Also have a shell grit suppliment added as an extra.

There are brown feathers everywhere in the chook run and in the back yard....

Any suggestions and any advice will be greatly accepted. I love my 2 girls xooxxo

Thank you

:-x

[nicnacs_4u]

Maybe it is stress or some mite infestation is the cause of her feather falling out..neither girls are broody are they?Good luck & I`m sure there will be lots of advice coming:-)

[izabsmiling]

Hi Jane, It could be just moulting .

Mature hens usually do it once a year around Autumn,at the end of their laying season and when the daylight hours are shorter.

[izabsmiling]

has it happened before ? usually they will start to lay again abt June/July and will grow new feathers. 

[sandypas]

She might be just moulting or you might have the problem we have just treated - mites.

My OH went to collect the eggs the other day and noticed these tiny, pin head size insects on his arm.  Turns out they were mites so we bought the necessary powder and powdered the chooks and henhouse.  Apparently they can cause them to go off the lay and moult.

[izabsmiling]

Actually depending on the winter ours have been off the lay until Aug/Set some years.When it's too cold they don't like to give us eggs .Same when it's too hot .

The timing is right for it to be moulting 

[janeababe]

i have owned chooks for years, but i have never had a chook lose this many feathers ever.. their nests are well sheltered.

I did do a search of the skin, and checked under the wings for lice but i didnt see anything, and got a hand full of feathers for my trouble! LOL
Mrs Brown wasnt impressed either! haha... (shouldnt laugh)

Their chook run and nests were cleaned out and all the straw was completely replaced about 12 days ago, which we do often.

I have some condys crystals in the cupboard. I might add that to their drinking water tomorrow. See if that  helps a bit.

At first glance today, i thought she had been attacked. She is almost bald in patches. She gave herself a shake, and a heap of feathers flew off her body!... 😮
its distressing and funny at the same time....

I could top up my doona soon, at this rate! :^O

[joz*garage]

mebbe a young rooster got in and played a bit rough