Hello everyone!
My favorite hen used to have the most beautiful, glossy feathers. But for a while now, they've been chewed up and ratty. My chickens live in my basement but spend most of the time outside. I thought, for a while, that her feather looked this way due to a lack of sunlight. But recently, it's gotten worse.
Over the summer, this hen (named Ebony) got a bald spot on the left side of her head. I figured she was just having a mini molt and I ignored it. Well, that filled in, but then she got a bald spot on the right side. I thought it would fill in, but after a few weeks when it had not, I went and bought some BOSS to give her some extra protein. It's October now, and it still hasn't filled in. I noticed lately that the skin in the spot looks a little red. Recently, I have been seeing Ebony's feathers around the coop, but upon further inspection I find that they have broken off and the root is still in her skin.
I also noticed that my rooster's vent looks bare. It's really ugly.
My buff silkie looks ratty as well, but my other 2 chickens do not. (Probably because they just molted and have new feathers)
I had a mite problem several years ago but these mites were visible and I could see them crawling around. I have inspected my birds and have not seen anything. I also have a new coop than I had during the mite problem. So I don't know. What do you think? Mites? And if so what's the best way to treat it?
My favorite hen used to have the most beautiful, glossy feathers. But for a while now, they've been chewed up and ratty. My chickens live in my basement but spend most of the time outside. I thought, for a while, that her feather looked this way due to a lack of sunlight. But recently, it's gotten worse.
Over the summer, this hen (named Ebony) got a bald spot on the left side of her head. I figured she was just having a mini molt and I ignored it. Well, that filled in, but then she got a bald spot on the right side. I thought it would fill in, but after a few weeks when it had not, I went and bought some BOSS to give her some extra protein. It's October now, and it still hasn't filled in. I noticed lately that the skin in the spot looks a little red. Recently, I have been seeing Ebony's feathers around the coop, but upon further inspection I find that they have broken off and the root is still in her skin.
I also noticed that my rooster's vent looks bare. It's really ugly.
My buff silkie looks ratty as well, but my other 2 chickens do not. (Probably because they just molted and have new feathers) I had a mite problem several years ago but these mites were visible and I could see them crawling around. I have inspected my birds and have not seen anything. I also have a new coop than I had during the mite problem. So I don't know. What do you think? Mites? And if so what's the best way to treat it?
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