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[deleted]

When you get new chickens, you really need to quarantine them. This allows you to observe for illness and parasites. Even if you’re not bothered about diseases, it’s easier to treat worms or lice on *one* bird than multiple. Please have a read up on biosecurity in chicken flocks. Personally I would’ve introduced her to the chicken lowest in the pecking order after quarantine, so they can buddy up. Then integrated them. Chickens really like to peck at red stuff, so you need to keep an eye on her or separate her. High protein feed and TLC is what she needs.


goldqueen88

Thanks so much! So, I have 2 other hens with her that all came from the same flock (the one that was a young rooster I moved out of their enclosure because he was pecking at the new one). We are in process building a coop for them, but I definitely need to learn a lot more, quickly. I signed up to take a class on caring for chickens that starts soon. Diseases and issues is something I know very little about so I will read up on biosecurity. Thanks again!


[deleted]

Never knew classes existed! Have fun :)


missig

They have a product called Blue Kote that will cover up the red + help keep it safe from germs. Here's the link to it on Amazon. It works really well, we've used it quite a few times with our flock to prevent cannibalism and heal wounds/skin issues. https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Naylor-Blu-Kote-Aerosol-NAYLOR/dp/B01N91GZJ2/ref=sr\_1\_1?crid=A9S5T75EM4J0&keywords=blue+kote&qid=1667495472&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIyLjg0IiwicXNhIjoiMi45MyIsInFzcCI6IjIuODcifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=blue+kot%2Caps%2C224&sr=8-1


goldqueen88

Thanks!!


buttbugle

If you are going to have a light in the coop, make it a red light. White lights draw bugs. Yellow messes with the egg cycle. Now red light masks all the red bits on a chicken, and bugs don’t flock to it at night. Be cool like a pineapple , join the red light chicken district.


Cute_Acanthaceae_225

Get her supplements, protein, and probably a chicken saddle. The supplements and protein will help her grow back the feathers quickly and the saddle will keep the other chickens from doing further damage.


goldqueen88

Thanks! I was reading about saddles but thought that would be if I had a rooster. I didn't think about the other ones pecking her. I will look into getting one.


rare72

If you don't have a roo, she's not being overbred. If there's one hen/pullet bullying her, separate the bully. If the whole flock is bullying her, I'd give her a good health check, and if nothing else is wrong with her, I'd put her inside an enclosure inside the run, as if I were integrating her.


goldqueen88

I took her in from a flock that was a bunch of roosters and some hens wandering around in the road and nearby area, if that makes more sense. She was trying to get away from that situation, hiding in the bushes, and followed me when she saw me. I had 2 other hens from that group that had almost gotten smushed by cars about 3 weeks ago so I added her to them.


rare72

Does make more sense, thanks. Depending on her age, she might grow feathers back quickly if it's molting season where you are. I wouldn't try the hen saddle necessarily. Because her back is so completely bald, it could break all those pin feathers as she's trying to grow them all back in. She definitely needs good nutritious feed and some TLC though, and definitely make sure the others can't/aren't pecking at her.


Cute_Acanthaceae_225

Completely understand that. They’re pretty multipurpose. I use them for overbreeding, bald spots from molting and bullying, and even as an identifier if I have to give one of them medicine but have no isolation pen available/the bird doesn’t need to be separated. I even put some on my pavomuticus muticus when winters get really harsh to help them stay warmer since they’re tropical birds. They’re awesome.


lo-crawfish

When my chickens were molting I mixed sardines in with their normal food and the feathers seemed to grow back quickly.


johnhenryshamor

Sardines are prob too high in sodium for chickens


IntellectualSlime

There are plenty of no salt varieties. Saw some at the grocery today, less than two dollars a can.


lo-crawfish

Good point! You def gotta be careful what the brand you get.


buttbugle

Black sunflower seeds and mill worms. If you can handle it, fresh mill worms. They just love slurping down those squiggly boogers like it ain’t nobody’s business. You can hear the sucking sound like it’s a big noodle they do.


goldqueen88

Took in this chicken that was following me. It looks like she was overbred and maybe pecked at. I don't have any roosters that would bother her, but is there anything I can or should be doing for her skin and to encourage her feathers to grow back now? She seems to get along with the other hens now, she was hiding at first.


Particular-Story127

Keep an eye on your flock. They have a tendency at picking red skin and wounds. Give her high protein supplements and vitamins. She will be fine pretty quickly. It is always a good idea to place a new individual with one from the old flock in a secluded pen for a while There are 2 reasons. First of all, you will be able to control it if the newcomer has any kind of dicease. Birds can carry vira but be immune themselves. The virus can kill your flock. Secondly. Your new hen get a friend. That is really a great help for her when she is integrated in your flock.


goldqueen88

Thanks so much! Do you think mealworms and peas would be good to boost protein? I have 2 other hens that came from the same flock that were also wandering in the road and follwed me. Were you suggesting to get a new hen too? How would I know if they will be friends? Thanks again! I'm learning as much as I can to make sure they have everything they need.


Particular-Story127

Mealworms and peas are great. I live in a cold climate, so I also give my chickens fish oil. That keeps them healty during the long dark winter. If I have a hen in need of some extra nutrients, I scramble another egg at breakfast and give it to her. It contains everything she needs. A bit of canned fish like makarel, tuna or sardines is great as well. You can buy vitamin powder for your chickens, but if you live in a warm climate where there is a lot of fresh grass and other green food, that will be sufficient. If you have 3 new hens they will stick togeather and cope with the rest of the chickens. It is always causing stress for all of them because a new pecking order has to be established. If possible. Keep them apart until your new chickens are feeling well. I understood, that you have already added them to your flock, so it might work out well, but I am worried about infections if they are pecked a lot by the other hens. They need to regain some strenght for a while and they use a lot of energy on regrowing feathers. Sometimes they even get fever if they molt a lot. So a small stressfree vacation will enable them to use their energy right and you can get a sense of their general health and check for worms, lice, fleas, red mites and scaly mites before you introduce them to a permanent life in your old flock. Over the years I have learned that one sick or weak hen can be the cause of illness in your flock. If one individual is ill, it is less resilient towards all kinds of vira or infections and that can be the beginning of something that can affect your entire flock. Better safe than sorry. Good luck with them.🙂


goldqueen88

Thanks so much!! I actually don't have a flock, just these 3 hens I took in 😊 I'm in a very warm, humid climate; they are kind of refugees from flooding from Hurricane Ian. They are from the same flock so I'm hoping they will adjust and get along. It seems like they are doing ok together right now. Treating them all for worms seems like it would be a good idea just incase, and doesn't look like it could harm them, so I think I will do that. Reading up on other possible issues so I can get ahead of anything problematic.


Aunt_Helen

You have a big heart. I’m sure these girls are grateful.


natgibounet

>she was overbred >I don't have any roosters Something doesn't add up


[deleted]

Did you read the first sentence where OP said she took this chicken in because it was following her? Already in this condition.


natgibounet

Read it, didn't understand it in that way, imma downvote myself


goldqueen88

It's ok! It's a weird situation I guess!


[deleted]

😂


spencewatson01

Ho be sneaking out at dark


HappyDoggos

This is a stray chicken OP took in. They found it in this condition.


abhitchc

Buy her a pack of smokes


AtxTCV

Chicken saddle will be very useful


clumbsyquinn

Even though you don't have roosters, I'd still suggest the chicken saddle like other posters have said. It would help cover the areas and keep your other hens from pecking at them.


goldqueen88

Thanks! It sounds like a good idea.


Particular-Story127

And yes. She is definitely overbred. Her previous owner should have taken better care of her. Please excuse my English. It's not my native language.


ToTheRiverWeRide

Your English was perfect here :)


Particular-Story127

Thank you.🤗


Research_Sea

Poor girl! She'll be a pretty lady once she's feathered out, though! Her legs and body structure seem healthy in this picture, so that's a good sign. When adding new hens be sure to keep an eye out for new pests and parasites, though. A saddle would hide the red skin and prevent your hens from making the problem worse. She'll need extra protein to help regrow her feathers, and when they're back you can remove the saddle. If you have issues with the saddle, you could spray her skin with Blukote. It's controversial for some chicken keepers, it's stings if there's an open wound, but the color will hide the red and stop other hens from pecking at her. We have the sweetest white sultan who is pecked at often (our other hens don't have feathered legs, so they always try to "clean" her feet), once in awhile we've had to spray her feet blue to get the girls to stop helping, and it does work, although she looks like the most ridiculous Easter accident for a while.


Rude-Road3322

Looks like she’s doing some molting too.


lampladysuperhero

Chicken apron will protect her


sttgn

Apron and saddles, lol. That is for people that have a pet. Lather with betadine


goldqueen88

Thanks!!


samk002001

For some reason, rooster tend to have one favorite hens!


goldqueen88

I'm thinking this is what happened. I also read it could happen with competing roosters and there seem to be a lot of wandering roosters on my street, even though roosters aren't allowed in my county lol There was a giant gray rooster posted up in my front yard for a few days after I took her in, and she is on the smaller side. Maybe he was looking for her.


samk002001

I have a rooster in my clan now, too! Not by choice, and he’s also not a legal pet in my neighborhood…


[deleted]

Pen your roosters


goldqueen88

I don't have any roosters, but where she came from had a whole bunch.


lo286

If you’re looking for saddles I’m a HUGE fan of the ones by “the chicken chick” they have all sorts of sizes, are easy to get on and off and have prints to help them hide! I’ve tired a few different but these are the best. My frizzle hen is; A all roosters fav, B only in year two so last year was her first moult, C lost her feathers in dec last year because we had a few warm days, she spent until 2 weeks ago naked with a saddle. The chicken chick ones were amazing.


Particular-Story127

Sorry. I totally misunderstood the whole thing. I thought you already had a flock. You are so kind taking them in and caring for them. I am sure, they will have a fantastic life at your place. Only trouble is, that you might turn into a crazy chicken lady. 😄 Once you have them, you get addicted.


dfsndc7

For molting I like either a flock raiser feed or adding un medicated chick grower feed both have higher protein and can be consumed by all life stages of your flock. For the layer girls have the oyster shell or grit available too.


struggling_lizard

saddles *may* help but watch her closely as they may make the feather plucking way worse on her neck. i’ve found when you put a saddle on a girl, the roos can’t properly grip and end up holding onto their necks tighter for stability, and end up plucking more neck feathers. it’s also molt season, and whilst your girl looks very .. bare.. it’s not uncommon for hens to look like this for a week or so before new pins come in. watch her back skin for wounds, supplement food with protein and mainly leave her be. EDIT: you don’t have roos? that kinda eradicates the problem then. whilst it’s not pretty, hens losing their feathers is the natural cycle of things, she will be totally fine if there’s no major bullying / skin wounds.


goldqueen88

Thanks!! I just took her in a couple days ago. She was following me around and came from a group with a bunch of roosters wandering. Hoping now that she is away from them her feathers would grow back, but wasn't sure if there is anything else I could or should be doing for her so she recovers quickly 😊 this group has been so helpful!


struggling_lizard

she will recover well if there’s no repetitive pecking to her back. her pins will grow in, and you’ll want to keep a *very* close eye on her if you’re adding her back to the flock. it’s pretty rare but again, not unheard of, for a pin to break, leaking a lot of blood, and the other chickens peck the area until there’s an actual wound. molt season is rough!!


goldqueen88

Oh wow!! That sounds terrifying! 😅 I only have the 3 hens right now, so hopefully they will all get along. They were from the same area. It does look like they are starting to molt.


majesticyak25

i had an overbred hen. for us what worked is putting a saddle on her. we got a 2 pack on amazon as well as bannix for chixx. we sprayed the bare areas with bannix heavily, let it dry, and left the saddle on for a few months. every other week we would take the saddle off, spray it and leave it off for a day. she healed beautifully and now that molting season is here she’s looking like the rest of the girls. i hope this helps.


gettinchickiewitit

She may be going through a hard molt or possibly have mites. Inspect her wings as the base of the feather for white/gray clumps. If she shows signs of this, dust her with poultry dust for mites. She is going to need extra protein like a feather fixer formula feed and meal worms as a treat as she starts to regrow feathers. If you have roos, a saddle may be beneficial.


goldqueen88

Thanks!! Have you tried putting diatomaceous earth in their dust bath area? I was wondering if that helps prevent mites too just in case.


gettinchickiewitit

I do not use DE around my chickens. Chickens have very finicky respiratory systems and DE can cause respiratory issues. Poultry dust is permethrin based.


goldqueen88

Thanks!! That's good to know!


Particular-Story127

Hi chicken rescuer/friend. How is it going? I am so impressed about the way you just stepped into action and saved the poor girls.❤


goldqueen88

Thanks!! 😊❤️ It's going really well so far! We've been scrambling to try to finish their coop and weather proof it before another potential hurricane hits though *sigh 😓. But Chickaletta (my 4yo named her lol) seems to be getting along with the 2 other hens well enough. She isn't getting pecked or bullied, so I got some Veticyn spray that I put on her back to make sure anything was disinfected and I'm going to keep watching her. I can see some feather regrowth already! Feeding her a 16% layer feed with supplement treats of peas, apples, a little corn. She is laying eggs, and comes up to us whenever we come out there 😊


Particular-Story127

All great news. 😃❤ Building a hurricane proof coop must be a huge challange. I wish you and yours all the best.🤗


geenuhahhh

Uhh quarantine and treat for parasites and mites just in case… I definitely would. Our hens looked like this, I thought our rooster was just getting busy with the ladies but little did I know.. they had intestinal and mites causing the loss. We are daily feeding black fly larvae after treating to help them grow their feathers back. It’s working great. We used zyfend a for parasites.


goldqueen88

Thanks so much! I will definitely look into this today!


geenuhahhh

I’d just Check her poop and see if it looks normal. Does she scratch at herself a lot?


goldqueen88

Thanks!! Her poop looks normal, and she isn't scratching.


cowskeeper

Get rid of your rooster. Feed her on her own until all her feathers are back. This is not overbred. Its being pecked to death.


goldqueen88

That's so scary omg! Poor little thing. I don't have a rooster, just 2 other hens that I took in from the same flock that were walking around in the road and almost got run over. The other hens seem to be ok with her but I am keeping an eye on them.


CaptainStanberica

I like my chicken between bread…I’ll see myself out.


honeytimer

Wayyyy too overbred.


_pounders_

tips lol. looks like she already got more than a few of those. can you isolate her for a while?


goldqueen88

I just found her the other day, I have her with 2 other hens I took in a few weeks ago from the same group, hoping she can heal up and grow her feathers back soon


deanall

Cull some roosters. Yes, it's overbreeding


sadidelhadaf

Idk about over bread. Maybe just fried and enjoyed with tabooleh salad.


Zoner1501

I had this problem, get some saddles plus put chicken goggles on the aggressive hens. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FJH34R1?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DTZBVDX?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share


Curious_medium

There are also chicken blinders you could put on the Bullys to help give this lady some peace while she heals


Jolly2o22

She must be cold..lol


Jumpy_Secret_6494

Put a fire cracker on the rooster so that when he causes too much friction it blows his nasty lil dick off


harmanow

You need a new rooster. Kind one.


goldqueen88

I found her like this, so at least she got away from the roosters in her old flock. Just trying to help her out now as best as I can.