Australorps breed Thread

[getaclue]

Awww, she's cute.

 

[boggart]

Awww, she's cute.

I think so too!

 

[flygirl1973]

Is this normal?

So I noticed her bald spot yesterday and posted it to the disease page. Not much help. I was able to pick them all up and check them for mites, lice and ticks and found absolutely nothing. There doesn't’ appear to be anything wrong with her ear, but I honestly am not sure what I’m looking at other than books telling me what the ear part is. The red flesh around it isn’t torn or ripped...I haven’t been able to watch her specifically yet to see if she’s scratching excessively or shaking her head.
The other thing I’m curious about are the black spots on the comb and the one wart looking thing seen better on the bottom photo. My other roo has some black spots/patches on his comb as well. Is this something to be concerned about? I’ve read the health for dummies book...and I’m still at a loss. Anyone who knows the breed have any ideas? They are 6 months old and free range. Just started laying eggs this past week.

 

[getaclue]

The black spots look to me, like peck marks, where another chicken has pecked. Your cockerels could be doing a bit of fighting when they get in close proximity to each other, OR while free ranging they're getting scratched/poked by underbrush, thorns, etc.

 

[flygirl1973]

Well that's nothing life threatening. The disease page just responded and said I may should put iodine on the wart while trying not to disturb it too much. Also said she may be getting plucked as well but he was curious about the yellow skin. This particular bird is a yellow foot bird...the only one I have. The rest have flesh colored feet but hers are yellow. I wonder if that has something to do with it, we actually call her yellow foot.

 

[getaclue]

I'm going to suggest that it could be a Jersey Giant, or a mix. Post a few good pictures of the whole bird, and a couple of the bottoms of the feet, if you are even concerned about what it is.

 

[flygirl1973]

I’m not concerned but certainly willing to get photos of her to show whoever else is interested what she may be. I’ll have to get back on this one.

 

[Coop Z-ville]

I agree with getaclue that bald spot/black spots look like pecking is going on. One of my Austrolorps, Dixie, was being picked on when she was "under the weather" for some reason-weird egg shells was one of the symptoms. Since that has improved (she still is at the bottom of the "pecking order," though usually not picked on), her feathers have grown back and her comb looks lovely again. She was starting to look like a buzzard, poor girl!
As to the feet color, both my BA girls have gray/black legs and dark colored foot bottoms.

 

[flygirl1973]

Ok, I’ve watched her now and it seems like she’s scratching her head. the bald patches seem (not totally sure) to be getting bigger around her head with some (after watching) now appearing on the back of her head when she preens. Since I inspected and didn’t find a thing, would I even be able to see mites if she had them? If I end up picking them all up and spraying them anyway I’ll get pics of her feet then. Right now she has runny poop and I’m reluctant to do anymore with them then needed. She’s always been the shyest of the bunch since a little un.
Should I just spray them and the coop with Permethrin anyway? Chickens for Dummies approves....

 

[flygirl1973]

Or do you guys want me to post this back on the disease page. Y’all were a bit more responsive honestly.