BRAHMA HEN-Just molting or something worse?

Based on the pictures, I'd say no to the scaly leg mites. My "recommended treatment" for that is a little extensive, so let's all have a collective sigh of relief that we don't have to deal with that!

And external parasites are easy to see. They look like large cayenne pepper flakes around the vent... or little moving dandruff bits around the ears.

And if you feel like your girl is losing weight, I'd up the protein a little during a molt. Growing all those feathers back in requires a large amount of protein... It's why egg production can drop off a cliff during the molting season. I mix just a little game bird feed (you could also use chick feed) in with their layer ration and they love it!

If you suspect she has internal parasites, you can use either Valbazen liquid goat wormer or Safeguard liquid goat wormer.

Dosage is the same:

.5cc for standard birds, .25cc for pullets/cockerels and bantams.

Valbazen: Treat once orally undiluted with syringe. Treat all birds AGAIN in ten days. Discard eggs for 14 days after last dose (total 24 days withdrawal time).

Safeguard: Treat once a day for FIVE DAYS orally undiluted with a syringe. I am unsure about the withdrawal period for Safeguard.

I hope that helps!

MrsB

BIG sigh of relief! Thanks for your response. I am so happy to hear it doesn't look like leg mites!
She is already eating Blue Seal chick feed (bc I have 8 chicks so they're all getting the same feed) and she gets homemade yogurt, homemade lentil bean sprouts, worms from a bag, and sunflower seeds and when she bullies the cat she gets high protein cat food. She is also free range so I would think from all of the above she would have enough protein but I'll keep trying to increase that.
So at this point I'm going to say you're right about the de-worming. I need to do it. I can't think of any other reason that she looks so bad that even my tenants are commenting on her. (a few said she looks skinny, and another said she needs a bath-after she just had a bath)
When I compare photos of her from mid summer until now there is a big difference in her appearance.

Thanks again for your response.

Worms can cause poopy butt and a decline in overall health. Definitely consider it.

MrsB

thanks so much