Does this look normal?

[dedonx]

My Silver Laced wyandotte is acting weird. She looks all stringy, and walks with a bit of a high-step. Her feathers will not grow back even after I kept my flock on Feather-Fixer all through winter. Her eggshells are very thin as well. I've added oyster shells into their feed to no avail. Through research I checked her feet for bumblefoot, shes been checked for mites and so on. If she has something, I don't want it to pass on to the rest of the flock, although they have all been fine for the few months this has been going on. Anyone have ideas?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She looks all stringy, and walks with a bit of a high-step. Her feathers will not grow back even after I kept my flock on Feather-Fixer all through winter. Her eggshells are very thin as well. I've added oyster shells into their feed to no avail.

Can you get a video of her walking? (upload video to youtube, provide us a link)

You mention she walks with a high step? No scabs or sores on the bottom of the feet?
Check her crop to make sure it's empty in the morning before she eats/drinks.

How old is your hen?
You mention the feathers didn't grow back - was she molting? How many chickens do you have total - any roosters?

The feathers look damaged, have you noticed if another hen is plucking at her?
I would not mix oyster shell in the feed, offer it free choice - just put it in a container in the coop/run they will take what they need.
Since her shells are thin, you can try giving her extra calcium for 5 days to see if that makes a difference. Give her 1/2 tablet Calcium with D3 (Like Caltrate) once a day.

Let us know how she is doing.

 

[Kathy Golla]

I agree with wyorp, could you give us more of her backstory?
What’s going on with her feathers? Are the other hens picking her feathers?
When did she lose her feathers?
Do you have a rooster?
Double sure no lice/mites?

 

[dedonx]

I never see her getting picked on and this happened in the fall. I'll check her again for mites. Here is a video of her walking. It really seems almost normal today. She just looks bad

 

[Kathy Golla]

Yeah that gait doesnt seem normal, it seems quite stiff. good job pointing that out. We need the experts to weigh in on that gait...almost like a nutritional deficiency or something. I’m wondering because she looks so rough plus is laying (depletes calories and energy) if she’s not getting enough nutrition. @Wyorp Rock

 

[Kathy Golla]

@Wyorp Rock it just struck me. Her feather problems are from depluming mites. Look at the bird in the still frame of the video and her deplumed wing feather shafts.
Not sure how her stiff gait relates to that.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

@Kathy Golla you may be right if she is not getting picked on mites/lice or depluming mites would be something I would definitely consider.
Permethrin spray/dust will not treat Depluming (Feather) mites. Ivermectin would be need for those. Dosage for Ivermectin Pour On is 0.09ml per pound of weight given once, then repeated in 10-14days. It does need to be applied at the base of the neck along the spine and come into contact with the skin.
Please do note, damaged feathers (those that are broken or stripped) will not be replaced until the bird molts, so she may be like that all summer depending on her age.

I'm not sure about the walking, she is a bit stilted. I would increase protein either will a commercial feed like all flock/flock raiser or give her a daily treat of egg, meat or fish.
Poultry vitamins that contain B2 (Riboflavin) would also be good to give as well. I would probably direct dose her for 3 days, then go to once a week.

 

[dedonx]

Ok, I will get on it. Thank you all for your help, time, and support. I will keep you updated.

 

[Kathy Golla]

@dedonx there is literature out there about treatment of depluming mites. Here is a post and a lot of people follow two crows’ treatment, unscroll post #3 by her in the post.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/depluming-mites-and-how-to-treat-hens.674172/#post-16545418

Her treatment is 6 drops (eye dropper) of the ivermectin pour on on the skin on the back of the neck once a week for six weeks.

 

[dedonx]

Would it be wise to treat the entire flock with this or only the bird that is in question?