Hi there Shodack! I just happened to come on for a visit and saw your sweet post. All is well. It's been very busy the past few weeks. We were preparing for a terminally ill foster child to come live his/her life out here with us. I prayed very hard that the birth family would come around for this little one. While we are trying to expand our own family, what was best for the child was to live days home with the people they know. By the grace of God it must have worked out. We have certainly seen some sad cases lately.
Do they bleed from molting or do you think she was pecked by another girl? I have seen a couple of them with their feathers up on their neck which I'm assuming means they're telling each other who's boss. I also saw where other birds will go after feathers when they are not getting enough protein in their diets because the feathers are protein? Not sure if I got that right.
Another thing I'm wondering is I'm seeing some other girls with white dander of some sort on their necks. Please don't tell me it's mites! I ran out of DE a couple weeks ago and the garden center we go to doesn't have any more of the organic kind because they are closing this month until spring. I have no idea where to buy DE so I can spread it in the coop. We had a bonfire last week, so I used the ashes in their bath in the run. Other than all of that, I'm hoping that I've done all I can and everyone is okay. I am a bit concerned for my EE'er though. Since she's missing a few feathers on her back, will she get too cold over night?
How is everyone doing?!
While they're molting, their feathers come in that waxy shaft u have seen with a blood supply that runs quite a ways up the feather. They're called 'blood feathers' until they're fully matured and the blood supply receeds. If one of these breaks, it will bleed. In my chickens, I've only seen a broken blood feather on feathered feet. But technically it could happen anywhere their feathers are coming in, bigger feathers more than smaller ones. If your girl doesn't have any cuts or scrapes on her back, it could have been a blood feather. If you find a blood feather that is still bleeding, use a pair of needle nose pliers to grab it as close to the skin as possible and pull it out. That will stop the bleeding. I have a parrot who chews her feathers, leaving new feathers exposed and unsupported. She breaks blood feathers from time to time.
TSC has DE. It's not the fancy organic type, but they have it. I've read that wood ash works very well. Check at night for mites bc that's when they come out. If u have them, you may see the mites on the roosts and your birds will keep scratching all night. Tho sometimes molting will make them itchy too. You can also look underneath their feathers for little black or red bugs.
Stay well. Best of wishes for your family and that lucky child who has your support. That's a really tough job. The kid is very lucky to have found you.
