Chicken Manure dust feather damage

[Wyorp Rock]

If you don't already know... I consider you to be one of the knowledgeable and respectable posters!

What I wanted you to know is that post was immensely helpful! especially the chicken wired link.

I'm actually thinking I MITE have this problem. I tried plucking a feather and looking under the microscope but couldn't see anything. So I decided to make an appointment with my vet even though I think the ivomec IS the way to go. Figure since it's my first time dealing with it that it's best to get an actual diagnosis. Visit will cost me $49 plus $30 if we do a skin scrape. Since I have 30 hens, 2 roosters, and 42 juveniles... I cannot afford to mess around with something so serious. I'm hoping for less than 30 day withdrawal. But will also ask about withdrawal time for eating the meat, just in case we ever need to know.

Will update after my appointment tomorrow.

Your too kind

I hope you are able to get some answers from your vet. If you don't mind sharing what you find, it will be most helpful for future readers.

 

[Kiki]

Your too kind

I hope you are able to get some answers from your vet. If you don't mind sharing what you find, it will be most helpful for future readers.

I too want to know what your vet finds.

OP I too would suggest treating your coop and birds with Permethrin.
DE is worthless.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I feed them Barclay Non GMO Layer pellets. Lately they have been getting the Grower feed. I have also been giving them cooked egg yolks for protein and it does not seem to be helping. I will investigate after dark. The funny thing is that I moved the ones that were effected to another area with other hens and the other hens started looking like that. So I moved them all back. But I do have one hen that has had feather issues since she was about 5 months old. She has consistently lost feathers since then and is now over a year in age. If it keeps up she is going to be naked. Poor thing.

The protein is in the whites, that's essentially what they are. The yolk will have fat and micro-nutrients, not sure about protein though. So if you aren't including the whites you may not be achieving your desired outcome.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I too want to know what your vet finds.

OP I too would suggest treating your coop and birds with Permethrin.
DE is worthless.

I like the convenience and effectiveness in *most* parasites for the Permethryn. But it's important that all of us "pushers" remember that parasites DO develop resistance to the permethryn as well as any other. So it may be just as important to switch up the routine with another treatment similar to the way suggested for worming medications. Or at least don't just frivolously use it every time we THINK we MIGHT need to like a knee jerk reaction, just because it's cheap and we don't have to withhold eggs!

 

[Kiki]

I like the convenience and effectiveness in *most* parasites for the Permethryn. But it's important that all of us "pushers" remember that parasites DO develop resistance to the permethryn as well as any other. So it may be just as important to switch up the routine with another treatment similar to the way suggested for worming medications. Or at least don't just frivolously use it every time we THINK we MIGHT need to like a knee jerk reaction, just because it's cheap and we don't have to withhold eggs!

I agree.
I would never use it unless I was for sure it was needed. Same goes for any wormer, doesn't get used unless there is a fecal test done beforehand.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Here are a few Pictures of the group that is effected.View attachment 1073641 View attachment 1073642 View attachment 1073643 View attachment 1073644 View attachment 1073645




View attachment 1073639

Sorry about the 20 questions (in advance, hehe).

How hens do you have?

How big is their coop?

Do you have a run? If not, do they range at all?

How do you deliver their meals/ basically, if you use pans, are they overcrowding during feeding?

What parts of the birds did you inspect for parasites?

If you are raising your flock for egg production, how many nesting boxes do you have, hen/box ratio?

If you don't have a run or range them, do you have enough space to give them a small dust bath tub?

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Not saying this is a miracle cure but it helps.
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/nutrena-naturewise-feather-fixer-40-lb
I have had the identical looking chicken feather loss problems.
• I had some overcrowding /sq ft per hen ratio.
• Bully hens/ direct result from over crowd & pecking order issues.
• Parasites hiding in difficult identification locations on the hens.
• Run needed more shade resulting in 50 birds piling
together and competing for the shady spots.

I weeded out the alpha hens and tweaked my entire program. I added the Feather fixer and seemed to help.
But that much damage can't be corrected overnight.
Some of the older birds scared over and I assume they are permanently damaged. The younger ones bounced back.
We had better luck diagnosing the tiny mites at night.
A dormant hen is more cooperative at night and the parasites seem to be more active as well.

​

Again, the feed is not a miracle cure but it is an aid.
I have been in your shoes and understand your concerns and frustration. I wish you the best in finding a suitable and positive solution to your problem.
Best regards,
FC

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I'm not a fan of feather fixer, and have (in the past) considered it a marketing scam... BUT it has changed it's formula many times. It used to have sulphur in it to combat mites but I don't think it does any more.

What it DOES have is 2% more protein than layer. And feathers being made of 90% protein will grow better if they have been lacking. It *may* also have an added dose of methionon (spelling) which I believe is an amino acid that is contained in the protein, if I'm not mixing my facts up. (sooo many things in my head) Maybe not even an added dose but what's included in the extra protein. I just go with any feed with more protein as long as their is oyster shell on the side for layers.

However... not all feather damage will grow back before molt. So knowing if the kind of damage you have will show improvement or not even though you do get the problem taken care of might help know what to expect.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Your too kind

I hope you are able to get some answers from your vet. If you don't mind sharing what you find, it will be most helpful for future readers.

OK.. so my vet said he sees lot's of feather damage. But no irritated skin associated with the microscopic type mites, so he wouldn't even know where to scrape to look for mites. In other words he doesn't think I have an issue. He said lice CAN be a problem. Which I have seen on other birds and treated my whole flock (with permethrin), and he didn't see any evidence of lice being an issues. He said that with my animal load (currently 28 hens, 2 roosters, 42 grow outs and 9 ducklings on 1 acre. Called it intensive farming).. there is no such thing as a season regardless if you have mild or harsh weather conditions that might usually see diminished parasite activity. So learning what you have and how to keep it at bay and developing a routine that includes altering medications to avoid resistance if you need to use them.

Ahh! I took my worst looking, best behaved hen and I'm just afraid he missed something. He is an avian vet with lots of experience and I trust his opinion! I guess I'm a little paranoid, never mind the over thinking OCD.

Oh, and I was prepared and already spent $40 on Ivomec. Which upon reading the label said when used in cattle that the meat was not safe for consumption for 48 days! I would assume meat from chickens would be at least that long. So I probably wouldn't try to treat any birds I was gonna eat any time soon. But if it was a life saver for my whole flock would definitely pursue off label use with caution. When I get fecal floats done for worm count, I probably won't use that unless that's the only kind that will solve the issue. Otherwise I would TRY to go with something that is on label and with less withdrawal time for eggs/meat.

I will continue to do checks and not worry about my current damage until molt, unless it appears to be getting worse. Always vigilant. Kind of relieved though as stated, somewhat skeptic.

He did see the striations on some feathers and said it was an indicator that something happened when that feather was still growing in during (called) the blood growth phase I think.

A trip to the vet is not feasible for many, wish I could be more help. Hope you get yours figured out.

 

[Kiki]

OK.. so my vet said he sees lot's of feather damage. But no irritated skin associated with the microscopic type mites, so he wouldn't even know where to scrape to look for mites. In other words he doesn't think I have an issue. He said lice CAN be a problem. Which I have seen on other birds and treated my whole flock (with permethrin), and he didn't see any evidence of lice being an issues. He said that with my animal load (currently 28 hens, 2 roosters, 42 grow outs and 9 ducklings on 1 acre. Called it intensive farming).. there is no such thing as a season regardless if you have mild or harsh weather conditions that might usually see diminished parasite activity. So learning what you have and how to keep it at bay and developing a routine that includes altering medications to avoid resistance if you need to use them.

Ahh! I took my worst looking, best behaved hen and I'm just afraid he missed something. He is an avian vet with lots of experience and I trust his opinion! I guess I'm a little paranoid, never mind the over thinking OCD.

Oh, and I was prepared and already spent $40 on Ivomec. Which upon reading the label said when used in cattle that the meat was not safe for consumption for 48 days! I would assume meat from chickens would be at least that long. So I probably wouldn't try to treat any birds I was gonna eat any time soon. But if it was a life saver for my whole flock would definitely pursue off label use with caution. When I get fecal floats done for worm count, I probably won't use that unless that's the only kind that will solve the issue. Otherwise I would TRY to go with something that is on label and with less withdrawal time for eggs/meat.

I will continue to do checks and not worry about my current damage until molt, unless it appears to be getting worse. Always vigilant. Kind of relieved though as stated, somewhat skeptic.

He did see the striations on some feathers and said it was an indicator that something happened when that feather was still growing in during (called) the blood growth phase I think.

A trip to the vet is not feasible for many, wish I could be more help. Hope you get yours figured out.

Thanks for the update, sorry you didn't get a clear answer.