Hi, anyone know anything about feather loss in chickens?

[Val]

hi

this is my first post - so please be gentle on me!

Emailing from sunny (oh when will it rain?!) Norfolk.

We grow what we can and have a couple of hybrid chickens in a good sized run.

Eedie is the dominant one and likes to try and crow in the mornings and Bree is a bit more shy. Eedies' feathers look as good as new, but Bree is looking rough. I don't think its just moulting as its been a few months now and no improvment. She has areas with no feathers (back of neck, breast) and all her feathers look a bit 'greasy' - like she's not washed her hair for a bit! Egg production is fine -though a bit less than a couple of months ago and a bit small recently (my husband reckons I feed them too many scraps?)

Does anyone have any thoughts on what this could be? I would have thought if it was diet or if we had some sort of lice or mites both girls would have been affected, but Eedie is in tip top condition.

Would be very greatful of any help

regards
Val

[Millymollymandy]

Hi Val and welcome to the site!

I suggest we answer your chicken moulting question where you have also posted it in the poultry section, or you'll have answers all over the place - hopefully!

[Val]

I know - I found that forum after posting the first note!

I am new here!!!

thanks for the help

Val

[Wombat]

G'Day Val,

Sounds like Bree is somewhat stressed, and seeing as all thins are equal, perhaps the agent of stress is Eedie.

Nev

[hedgewitch]

Hello Val and welcome to the forum

[Andy Hamilton]

welcome to the forum and we will let you off for posting in the wrong place

[ina]

Hi Val

Seeing that our internet connection has decided to work today (no idea how long for ), I might as well say hello to you, and welcome...

Even here it's been sunny for a few days now - almost don't want to go out anymore, it's so hot! In Scotland, the cool NE of it, too!!!

[chadspad]

Hi Val,

Dont know about chickens but used to live in Thetford,Norfolk before coming to France - whereabouts are u?

[hedgewizard]

A puzzler. Watch for any signs of bullying - you might need to put a beak ring on Eedie if that's it. Otherwise you might have red mites, a common irritant. Affected birds may not show any signs until they become allergic so Bree might not be allergic yet. Open the house up late at night and shine a torch on the perch. If you see tiny reddish/grey mites walking along it then that's you're problem. Quite literally, since by that stage they're probably walking over you too! Welcome!