Dandruff or what?

[munchkinlover]

Good morning all. I am a first time chicken mom and really ignorant about a lot of stuff. I have a question about one of my girls. She looks like she has a little dandruff on her head and the feathers on her head look like they are thinning. I can't catch her & I don't see good up close and can't tell if they are mites or what. She doesn't appear to have any other symptoms, but I think that maybe another bird is getting the same thing. Can anyone help me figure out how to help her? Thanks for any input.

 

[kellyhubb]

She could be molting

 

[ChickNanny13]

Where are you located? How old is she?
It's probably flaking from the sheath of their feathers due to molting. However, you should get a hold of each & check for external parasites.

 

[munchkinlover]

She could be molting

she is only 13 weeks old. won't she wait until next year?

 

[munchkinlover]

Where are you located? How old is she?
It's probably flaking from the sheath of their feathers due to molting. However, you should get a hold of each & check for external parasites.

We are in Arkansas & she is only 13 weeks old and she is a Gold Laced Wyandotte. I may see small signs that the other 3 Wyandotte's are maybe showing a little of the same. What do I do if it's mites?

 

[munchkinlover]

We are in Arkansas & she is only 13 weeks old and she is a Gold Laced Wyandotte. I may see small signs that the other 3 Wyandotte's are maybe showing a little of the same. What do I do if it's mites?

This is a closer picture. I don't know what mites look like.

 

[munchkinlover]

I managed to get a hold of the rooster finally. I think it does look like flaking from the new feathers that I couldn't see yet. I thought that when they molted that they lost feathers first. Mine are still fully feathered. This is a learning process, isn't it? Thank you all for responding. Every new thing worries me. I'm glad to know I can ask others!

 

[slordaz]

I managed to get a hold of the rooster finally. I think it does look like flaking from the new feathers that I couldn't see yet. I thought that when they molted that they lost feathers first. Mine are still fully feathered. This is a learning process, isn't it? Thank you all for responding. Every new thing worries me. I'm glad to know I can ask others!

Sometimes they do a soft molt which is hardly noticeable unless you can catch em and see the new feathers coming in

 

[Ebony Rose]

For chickens that won't let you walk up and pick them up, wait for them to go to the coop at night and using both hands (if at all possible) hold their wings to their body and lift them off of the roost and into your arms. Then you can take the chicken to a well lit area to be examined. A dry, light colored wash cloth or gloves can be gently rubbed at the base of their tail feathers by the vent and under their wings to check for lice and mites. There should be dirt on the rag when you're done gently rubbing. Is the dirt moving? If it is, they have external parasites.

 

[ChickNanny13]

View attachment 1938080 This is a closer picture. I don't know what mites look like.

At 13wks, these are new feathers coming out .... I have 4 that will be 13wks Monday, they're going through a soft molt, feathers around but not alot.

Search bird mites/lice in the forum or internet, there's alot of different kinds of mites and not all are "bad". Bird mites/lice are not good for a chickens health.