Q : My Gallus gallus have lost a lot of plume latterly and have several bald spots . I deepen their dieting from corn to pellets / feather synthetic heroin to help with ecdysis , but all their feathers still have n’t farm back . What ’s causing this feather release ? What can I do to get them back to normal ?
A : chicken losing feather can be attributed to several thing , not just molting , and the cause can usually be identified by looking at where the feather red is . If your hens have lost their breast feathers , they are plausibly pensive . This mean that they are literally feathering their nest in preparation for sit on ball and hatch chicks .
If the plumage loss is around the blowhole field , you might be carry on with touch or another international parasite . Check the area ( and also under the wing ) after dark using a torch for any crawling worm on your chickens . If you bump some , then you will need to treat the bird . ( For more information on address your flock for extraneous parasites , readGet These Pests Out of the Chicken Coop . )
If the feather loss appears only on the hens and is concentrated on their lower back and wings , possibly with some around the backs of the heads , that ’s plausibly rooster harm from overmating . The rooster rip out the hen ’s feathers with his claw . Separating him for a while to let the hens grow back their feathers is a skilful idea , or you may put “ saddle ” on them , which are basically pieces of fabric that protect their spine .
If one wimp seems to be suffering the majority of the feather passing , and it ’s around her head or venthole area , you might have a bully in your flock . discover and removing the roughneck for a few days can help . Note : The breeds with beards and muffs such asAmeraucanas , Easter Eggersand Faverolles seem to be the most vulgar victims of feather pull .
If it ’s capitulation and the feather loss start around the head and neck area and is moving down the body fairly evenly toward the tail , then your flock is probably molting . molt is the annual feather loss volaille undergo to grow in overnice new plumage before winter , and it ’s completely normal .
Regardless of the reason of the feathering loss , feeding your volaille a balanced dieting will help with regrowth . Corn is n’t a consummate feed for chicken . Instead , I commend a gamy quality layer provender yr - round , supplemented with some protein - rich treat such as sunflower seeds , meat scraps , scrambled eggs , mealworm or other insects as well as accession to lot of grass , weeds and herbs .
Some hoi polloi like to feed their flock a agriculturalist feed , for deterrent example , in the gloam during the molting time of year , because it hold a bite more protein than a steady layer feed . If you do that , be sure to supply liberal - choice oyster shell or crush eggshell to your flock because agriculturist feed does n’t include tot calcium , which chickens necessitate to lay eggs . ( As an aside , chickens do n’t lay eggs while they are exuviate . )
Mice Aren’t Nice
Q : We have had a few field of force mice around our garden and chicken chicken coop . I get word a chicken collar and eat one of the mouse . We have also put out poison around the coop and garden to master the computer mouse . If the chicken eat the mice , does this hurt / harm the chickens in any way or the eggs we corrode ?
A : It ’s often a surprisal to unexampled chicken keepers that their flock will eat mouse , but considering that crybaby are omnivores , they will eat a computer mouse , a pocket-size lizard or a frog as soon as they will feed sens or other plant material . I never recommend using any character of poisonous substance to get free of rodents or insect on my property for this very reasonableness . Your concern is a valid one . Wildlife rehabilatators often see event of owls die from eating a mouse or git that has eaten poison . I would imagine that a chicken would also suffer that same luck .
A good way of life to see to it mice around a henhouse is to clean up spill provender , and do n’t pull up stakes feed out overnight . Cover the feeder or put it forth . And be certain to houseclean up any kitchen scraps the chickens have n’t eat by night . Once you off the food generator , the mouse should move on .
If you see snake in the grass around , do n’t be too quick to kill them . As long as the snake is n’t vicious and a threat to your family or other pets , the snake will probably earn out the mouse population for you in short social club .
Getting a cat is also a slap-up way to control rodents . Many dog breeds will also give chase and enchant mouse for you , too .
Finally , consider planting some herbs in the domain . Some people , myself included , believe that planting mint around your chicken coop and running will help to deter shiner and make your hencoop and run area less attractive to them . The mint should also help keep fly and other insects away .
Email your fowl - related questions to Lisa Steele at chickens@chickensmagazine.com , with “ Flock Talk ” as the subject line .
This story originally appear in the November / December 2018 issue ofChickensmagazine .
