Why do feathers of laying hens fall out?

Each owner of the poultry yard, of course, wants his birds not to get sick and show maximum productivity. But, unfortunately, their disease is a frequent phenomenon. Sometimes the question arises for poultry farmers: why do feathers of laying hens fall out? What's happening? Chicken not only loses feather, but can even partially bald. This process is considered a disease of chickens, and is scientifically called alopecia. We’ll familiarize ourselves with this phenomenon in more detail. And we will find out why chickens drop feathers on their backs and other parts of the body.

Seasonal molt

If the chicken began to lose feathers, do not panic! First you need to make sure that this is not a molt. Seasonal molting is a natural process of feather renewal in birds. Feather change is strictly in order:

• head;
• neck;
• breast
• back;
• wings;
• sides;
• tail.

Shedding in poultry depends on the age and time of the year. In spring, molting begins only in young chickens, the rest of the bird molts in autumn. This process lasts from four to eight weeks.

What is alopecia?

Owners of chickens are faced with this problem: the bird loses its feather, bald. This does not happen during the autumn molt, but can happen at any time of the year. Body parts such as the neck, back, and chest are usually affected. Feathers become brittle, and chicken can lose not only them, but also fluff. All this differs from ordinary molting and is considered a disease called alopecia.

It is important to notice the disease at the very beginning. With alopecia, the bird's feathers discolor, lose their luster and fall out. And with seasonal molting, small feathers fall from the lower layers. There is a difference. If chickens drop feathers, why should you worry? What is this fraught with? If treatment is not started immediately, the bird can very quickly lose up to 90% of plumage.

Causes of Alopecia

Baldness of birds can begin completely suddenly. This process is enhanced by certain factors. The reasons why chickens drop feathers should be considered. An unbalanced diet is considered to be one of the main ones, when the diet lacks vitamins and minerals, and also loss can occur with a lack of cystine, calcium, sulfur, iodine, phosphorus and manganese.

Another reason why chickens drop feathers on their necks and backs is keeping birds in poor conditions: dirt, dust, too dry or, on the contrary, humid air, lack of ventilation and violation of the temperature regime, as well as keeping in cramped spaces. The cause of the disease can also be parasites (poohoedy and spoofers). This also includes a lack of light, lack of walks in the fresh air, lack of vitamin D.

What is the disease dangerous?

Damage to the skin causes serious inconvenience to the bird. With alopecia, the functioning of vital organs is disrupted, the bird has a nutrient deficiency. In laying hens, the reproductive function is impaired, due to the fact that most of the nutrients are spent on egg formation. A sick bird begins to lay fewer eggs, and then the laying ceases altogether. The bird weakens and loses weight, a lethal outcome is possible.

Remedy

So, first of all, it is necessary to identify the reason why chickens drop feathers. With timely treatment, the bird can be saved. Consider the causes and their elimination.

Malnutrition

If there is a violation in the diet, the chickens lose their luster of plumage, feathers begin to fall out, and egg production decreases. What should be done:

1. The presence of mineral supplements and vitamins in the feed is necessary. Special additives can be purchased at the store.
2. Together with vitamins, sulfur or glauber's salt should be added to the feed at each meal.
3. To replenish the level of minerals, potassium permanganate or iodine should be added to drinking water in the morning.
4. You must buy high-quality special food in the store. From natural feeds, it is useful to add cabbage leaves, legume vegetables, and bone meal to the feed. These products contain sulfur, which contains components that promote feather growth. You can add to the feed and combustible sulfur, it can be purchased at the pharmacy.

Signs of Alopecia

In alopecia, the following parts of the body are affected: back, neck, chest, tail and stomach. Sometimes a chicken can become completely naked, her skin becomes inflamed, with bruising. In case of illness, chickens lose weight, stop rushing, and immunity is greatly weakened.

What is the disease dangerous?

Alopecia with timely and proper care is not a serious disease. But if the bird is not treated, even a fatal outcome is possible.

Medicines

Medicines are also important. The following medications are used to treat alopecia:

• "Ganasupervit" - water-soluble vitamins;
• Chiktonik is a multivitamin;
• "Gamavit" - an immunomodulating agent;
• Desi Spray - Wound Healing Spray;
• "Operin" is a feed mixture that is equivalent to medicines.

Folk remedies

For the treatment of the disease, folk remedies can be used. Antlers or hooves of pets are best suited for this purpose. It is necessary to prepare flour from them and add to the feed daily. Organic products are thought to be very effective: they help stop feathers from falling out and promote the growth of new ones. Use flour until the result is visually noticeable. If it is not possible to prepare flour from horns and hooves, proceed as follows: collect all the feathers in the chicken coop, chop and add to the feed. They also contain cystine, which will also give a positive effect.

Incorrect conditions

If it became known that the cause of alopecia is poor maintenance, it is enough to carry out the following measures (in the absence of a bird):

• clean the room;
• carry out a complete disinfection;
• carry out airing;
• make a hood if it is not.

It is recommended that you make a large window in the room so that sunlight can enter the chicken coop. If possible, you should buy ultraviolet lamps. The temperature in the room should be maintained at about 22 degrees Celsius, humidity should not exceed 60%, drafts should not be allowed. It is necessary to provide chickens with a walk. They should be able to be outdoors.

Why does the chicken drop feathers on the pope?

Further. When kept on dirty, wet bedding in chickens, baldness begins in the ass area, and the constant contact of feathers with a moist, dirty floor helps to remove feathers from this part of the body. All this leads to focal alopecia. It is necessary to carry out floor treatment with disinfectant solutions in the chicken coop in order to prevent infection of birds with parasites. It is recommended that the floor is always dry.

One of the reasons why chickens drop feathers is parasites. This is very serious. In the presence of parasites in birds, alopecia begins precisely with the tail, and then spreads to other parts of the body. Lop-eater and nibbler feed on down and feather, as well as skin epithelium. For the prevention and control of parasites, an ash bath should be installed in the room where the birds are located. Hens, swimming in ash, will conduct a good cleaning of feathers. It is only necessary to ensure that the contents in the container are not wet.

Parasite control agents:

• Front Line
• "Ivomek";
• "Epicide A";
• "Neomastosan";
• Novomek.

Why does the chicken drop feathers on the breast?

And that's not it. Feathers on the breast may also fall out due to parasites. In addition, a chicken with a lack or absence of mineral additives in the diet begins to pluck feathers from its breast. Therefore, in the diet must be present:

• sodium;
• calcium;
• phosphorus;
• bone flour;
• old slaked lime;
• wood ash;
• a piece of chalk;
• fish meal ;
• fish fat.