Chicken feathersserve a number of purposes for both bird and mankind . For hens , their plume ply disguise and protection from the weather . For the roosters , they are a way to win mates . For scientists , granger and show judges , feathers provide a measure of poultry health . While annual molting is a normal part of a Gallus gallus ’s lifecycle , other feather going can be a sign of something wrong in your flock .
Chicken Feathers: Causes for Concern
There are many reasons chickens may misplace their feather that suggest wellness issuing in the Bronx cheer . Parasites , illnesses , stress and other culprits are all potential issues .
Poultry tinge can overrun Gallus gallus and tunnel into the skin next to the feather . This stimulate the birds to draw out their feathers in an endeavour to rid themselves of the vexation . Other touch and biting louse can cause alike reactions . house of theseparasiteson shuttle are often a signal that the integral flock is overrun and likely the cage and run as well .
It is important to affirm that leech are the issue before treatment . Bacteria or fungous infections can also make feather loss in a lot and often involve medicine .
Feathers are made up mainly of protein and birds may consume a pile mate ’s feathering to make up for a protein deficit . Other micronutrient deficiencies can do cannibalizing behaviors as well . Keep in mind that nutritional need will deviate depending on the strain , sentence of twelvemonth , eld of the wench and other factors .
Bald volaille can also be a symptom of pic to toxins oroverheating . While it can well be attributed to a strain trouble , feathering picking because of extreme temperatures , lack of saucy water or gamey ammonia levels can be symptom of much more stern issues . In fact , feather pick and level of loss are often used by animal wellbeing experts to determine the prophylactic and health of a flock .
Some stress - induced feather rive may exist in even a sound flock since smack order clash can require physical altercations . However , if the doings persevere or bird are regain with severe feather loss , this is often more than normal , competitive behaviour . Feather loss can be because of higher - status hens bullying mess mates . Boredom , cramped quarters , predators and other stressors can result in volaille pluck out each other ’s feathering .
Level 0: This handsome rooster is missing no feathers, shows no bare patches and everything is lying smoothly. However, as his male chicks begin to grow up sparring matches will likely change this until they are separated out. Photo by Sherri Talbot
If birds appear to be accentuate , widening run and providing enrichment activities can help to tighten issue with overcrowding or lack of stimulation . Roosters can facilitate with the regulation of a flock , though if there are too few hen for an amorous male , over - sexual union may also stimulate feather loss in the hens . In this case , it is due to him repeatedly mounting them and get out their feathering out .
Measuring Chicken Feather Loss
Feather grading is a measure of feather loss in a mass . assess about 50 % of the birds in a mass is suggest to best find out the over - all flock health , and a single bird miss large numbers of feather is not likely to be seen as a sign of business organization . Scoring is done on a scale of 0 - 2 and should not be done when doll are molting .
Since chicken are fair game creature , they will often hide issues and can be difficult to name . Knowing the possible signs and symptoms associated with feather loss can serve identify issues in a quite a little more quickly .
Level 0: This handsome rooster is missing no feathers, shows no bare patches and everything is lying smoothly. However, as his male chicks begin to grow up sparring matches will likely change this until they are separated out. Photo by Sherri Talbot
Level 2: This bird is borderline, but was overbred by a rooster who liked her a LOT! She is missing feathers on her head and body and, while it isn’t visible in this shot, there is a bare patch on her back where she has been mounted repeatedly. Photo by Sherri Talbot
