Balding, slowly losing feathers down neck, abdomen bare, vent feathers stripped of down, broken.

PopoMyers

Free Ranging
Aug 19, 2020
2,644
12,948
686
Kitsap, WA
What could be happening? Suggested treatment? Hen is just over 2 y.o., eats, lays, poops, activity normal. Middle of pecking order of 6 hens. No signs of pecking or bullying from others. No itching or scratching. No detectable mites or lice. Had a normal molt this winter. She has been going gradually bald for the past few months, and is also losing neck feathers. Her under carriage is bald, and remaining feathers around her vent and tail are raggedy, missing the soft part of the feathers. She roosts with others on the outside of the coop frame, the 2"side of a 2x4 which also has a stiff netting attached, on which the girls halfway use as balance at night. She is the only one exhibiting this issue.
Photos attached.
20240527_132949.jpg
 

Attachments

  • 20240527_133050.jpg
    20240527_133050.jpg
    320 KB · Views: 63
  • 20240527_132807.jpg
    20240527_132807.jpg
    565.3 KB · Views: 59
  • 20240527_132813.jpg
    20240527_132813.jpg
    170.8 KB · Views: 84
What % protein feed is she on? what breed?

any chamce you have a feather picker in there picking on her?
 
I’m having the same issue with one of my leghorns I did not see any lice or mites on any of my chickens. Then today I noticed something crawling on my egg box doors I pulled up the nesting pads and there the were all over! I treated the nesting boxes and changed out the pads. I will be treating all of my girls next. Ugh
 
Any suggestions? I have a Rhode Island Red about two y/o who is losing feathers and vent is messy, been treating her for mites. The others don't seem to be affected. Her comb is good and she acts normal.
 
Any suggestions? I have a Rhode Island Red about two y/o who is losing feathers and vent is messy, been treating her for mites. The others don't seem to be affected. Her comb is good and she acts normal.
I would give her a good bath to clean up any mite dirt I just did mine in warm water and Castile soap. Really clean that vent area good. And finished by dipping her in clean water with some ACV in it (was told this by an old timer to help soothe the skin). I also upped her protein intake to 22% feed and added probiotics to the water. Mites can take a toll on their bodies and they sometimes need extra help bouncing back. My leghorn is doing great now! 🙂
 
Any suggestions? I have a Rhode Island Red about two y/o who is losing feathers and vent is messy, been treating her for mites. The others don't seem to be affected. Her comb is good and she acts normal.
Has she been wormed? Messy vents sometimes mean some intestinal worms. Also, loose stools can occur when they drink more during hot weather. Could she be molting?
 
I’m having the same issue with one of my leghorns I did not see any lice or mites on any of my chickens. Then today I noticed something crawling on my egg box doors I pulled up the nesting pads and there the were all over! I treated the nesting boxes and changed out the pads. I will be treating all of my girls next. Ugh
Did you resolve your mite infestation? I had been battling red mites since November, think we've finally won the war for now. Those are vampires who feed on the chooks at night, and hide during the day.
 
Did you resolve your mite infestation? I had been battling red mites since November, think we've finally won the war for now. Those are vampires who feed on the chooks at night, and hide during the day.
Yes finally we had to deep clean the coop pulled everything out. Actually changed to sand for the run I think deep litter was not helping the issue. I dusted everything including every bird with gardstar I’ll add a picture got it from tractor supply. You have to re treat in 10 days to make sure they are all gone. Everyone is doing well, I did end up bathing my badly affected girls to get rid of mite dust it was amazing how much better they looked and seemed to feel!
 

Attachments

  • IMG_9155.png
    IMG_9155.png
    785.2 KB · Views: 47

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom