Bald spots

[RobinS1217]

hope someone has insight for me.
I have a Juvenile golden comet. We got her when she was 18 weeks back in March. Her favorite spot to bathe isn’t always the driest. I was checking on her because she didn’t get up when the rest came for snacks and noticed she wasnt reacting much but then noticed bald spots! After that I noticed the feathers below her vent looked dirty. I inspected and it appears to be dirt, not poop, but I still suspect some poop. I sprayed her with PSP to be sure but I don’t see evidence of lice. Definitely not mites unless my eyes are really bad. I tried to get good pictures.
My question is: could these be early molting? If not, what suggestions do you have?


I have her back in their fenced run and she is eating and drinking. Crop is a tiny bit mushy. But she is the one I have trouble with. I check her crop every morning and it was flat and empty at 7am

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

The dirt is probably from dust bathing. Usually they shake it all out. It's good you treat for external parasites just in case. The bald spots could be from rubbing. On roosts or in the nest boxes if she's laying, but the vent looks like picking, so the rest may be too.

I would spend some time quietly observing your birds to see if you have a feather picker in your flock.

 

[RobinS1217]

The dirt is probably from dust bathing. Usually they shake it all out. It's good you treat for external parasites just in case. The bald spots could be from rubbing. On roosts or in the nest boxes if she's laying, but the vent looks like picking, so the rest may be too.

I would spend some time quietly observing your birds to see if you have a feather picker in your flock.

They’ve been together so long I can imagine some deciding to pick but I wouldn’t rule it out. I’ll keep an eye out. I cleaned her bottom with epsom salt in water and then blow dried her. No more issues there. I just can’t get over these balled spots! They’ve each got 1 ft of roost and the 8 of them share 4 nesting boxes(12x12x14). I see her picking around on herself some. That’s why I wondered if it was external parasites. Could it be stress? We got chicks 10 weeks ago. Once they hit 4 weeks we put them in a large enclosure right next to our big girl for them to get acquainted through the fence. They’ve been separated but make their presence alone is stressful? Am I correct in thinking they will molt this year?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I correct in thinking they will molt this year?

Since they were hatched in November of last year they should molt, but may not. She should grow in any lost feathers.

I've only had a few sex links and they had problems, probably because of their higher production. One never molted. I was feeding a layer ration back than, and they probably weren't getting enough protein. So with these higher production breeds it's best to feed a higher protein ration, especially if you add extras, so they don't become depleted and look for extra protein. Either by egg eating or feather picking, or even worse by cannibalism.

I use a 20% all flock ration now with oyster shells free choice. You can boost protein by feeding treats of canned fish, meal worms, higher protein cat food, cottage cheese, eggs, and other various things, but it's best to just make that higher protein ration available, and see how it goes.

 

[RobinS1217]

Since they were hatched in November of last year they should molt, but may not. She should grow in any lost feathers.

I've only had a few sex links and they had problems, probably because of their higher production. One never molted. I was feeding a layer ration back than, and they probably weren't getting enough protein. So with these higher production breeds it's best to feed a higher protein ration, especially if you add extras, so they don't become depleted and look for extra protein. Either by egg eating or feather picking, or even worse by cannibalism.

I use a 20% all flock ration now with oyster shells free choice. You can boost protein by feeding treats of canned fish, meal worms, higher protein cat food, cottage cheese, eggs, and other various things, but it's best to just make that higher protein ration available, and see how it goes.

I will up her protein. Our organic scratch layer feed is 16% protein- no corn no soy. They go crazy over the chick feed. Could I feed them half and half?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I will up her protein. Our organic scratch layer feed is 16% protein- no corn no soy. They go crazy over the chick feed. Could I feed them half and half?

You could, or make sure any extras are protein based. Otherwise 16% protein is the daily minimum requirements. So adding anything extra could mess with their needs. You also should switch off a layer during times when they aren't laying like during the molt. So finding a back up with more protein is always a good idea for those times.