Bald Area

[Creteloc]

My silver laced wyandotte pullet (appx 4 weeks old) has torn out all of it's feathers around it's oil gland. It's scabby and bald. She's constantly picking at it. I'm not sure what to do with it.

 

[Embuck]

Could she possibly have lice? Does the bare skin look or feel inflamed?

 

[Creteloc]

It doesn't look red at all and it's not hot to the touch.

 

[Embuck]

Is there any sign of lice under her vent, or under the wings?

 

[Creteloc]

Not that I can see. I don't see any q-tip looking feathers or little yellow bugs. Should I give her a gentle/warm bath? She has a dust bath available but hasn't used it. We just got her this morning though.

 

[Creteloc]

I'm thinking you may be onto something with the lice idea. It's not just her oil gland that's bald. Her back is mostly bald too.

 

[Embuck]

You say you just got her? Had she been in with a rooster before, or other chickens generally?

 

[Creteloc]

Yes to both. She was in a coop with 5 other chicks her age. 3 looked like hens and 2 looked like roos. It was at the local IFA. Their coops looked pretty clean, but they aren't nearly big enough.

 

[Creteloc]

I read up real quick and gave her a warm bath with diluted pet shampoo. Right now she's getting a warm hair dryer and loving it. She's asleep, actually. I was able to get a better look at her vent and under her wing and I'm not seeing anything suspicious. She's was incessantly picking at that gland until the bath.

 

[Embuck]

I'd say it looks like a combination of rooster damage and picking, in that case. Keeping her separate from other chickens and giving her time should fix it. The damage around the oil gland is worse, but it should also get better, since it appears to be pretty much surface damage.