3 1/2 month pullet with feather problems

[GreenRiverHen]

HI

I thought my little girl might have mites or lice but i can't find anything on her or in the coop---and everyone else looks great. I did clean out the whole coop and dust with rotenone with sulphur and DE. I filled it with fresh pine shavings and i have separated her so no one can pick on her. I haven't dusted her.

Here are some pictures of the feathers on her back. Her tail is affected too. See how the feathers look frayed and moth eaten? Should i just dust her and hope for the best---or is there something else wrong with her?

 

[Eggcessive]

It looks a little like another chicken is pulling out her feathers, by the blood at the base of 2 feathers and new feathers growing in. I don't know what is causing the feather quality problems. Is she getting 18-20% protein grower feed with very little treats? I might increase the protein to 20 or 24% for a little while to see if it makes a difference. I know that 5% sevin dust is an excellent treatment for mites and lice, and they have to be dusted every 7 days until all of the eggs are gone. Here is a good link to read: http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/08/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification.html

 

[Eggcessive]

And two more:
http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme-fact/0018.html
http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/pdf/8162.pdf

 

[GreenRiverHen]

I think the others are picking at her now because she has a problem but I don't think they caused it. There was no blood when I first noticed it a couple of days ago. I have her separated now.
Our feed store isn't ordering any more grower till spring. They say no one is buying it right now. So my husband brought home layer feed a couple weeks ago. I will call around to other feed stores to see if I can find some. I did make her some oatmeal with eggs and catfood to try to get more protein into her.

Thank you for your help.

 

[Eggcessive]

Chick starter is good if you can get the unmedicated, and many feed stores carry rooster feed or gamebird feed that is 20-26%. I would let her back into the flock every day, so that you don't have to re-introduce her which can be a nightmare for an only pullet. Keep posting about this--maybe someone else will have a better suggestion as to what is wrong. I have heard of "feather mites," but I can't find anything more about them. Lice can eat feathers, and can easily be mistaken for mites. Lice are fast moving and mites are slow, if that helps, LOL.

 

[casportpony]

If you're curious, dust her with something like 5% Sevin or the poultry dust they sell at feedstores, put her in a box on white paper towels, cover the box and come back in 30-45 minutes, I bet you'll see some bugs when you come back. Both mites and lice can be very hard to see, which is why I always dust, even if I can't see them.

-Kathy

 

[GreenRiverHen]

I really don't think she has any bugs. I have thoroughly inspected her with a bright light and a magnifying glass.

I have put her in a dog crate inside the coop with the others. They can still see her and sit near her--they just can't peck her. Do you think this will be okay or should i still let her out?

 

[GreenRiverHen]

Oh, thanks, Kathy. I read your suggestion after I posted last. I will give it a try.

 

[casportpony]

Oh, thanks, Kathy. I read your suggestion after I posted last. I will give it a try.

If nothing else it's kind of fun to do. Feather lice are very sneaky and will often hide in the feather shafts.

-Kathy