EMERGENCY! Pipp or scaled tounge?

[P&A]

My father in law visited for a few days and while he was here, one of the chooks died. She was not very old (under 1 year) and seemed to be ok but we found her dead in the morning.
He had a look at her and said 'I don't think its what killed her but you might wana check your chooks as this one has got "pipps" and that makes her tounge sore so she cant eat even though it looks like she is picking away on the grains.'
We picked another one of the girls and he showed me what appears to be a scale on her tounge that could be pealed of without any struggle from her. It looked like a shell or scale and was hard.
What is it and how do I cure it.
I only feed my girls PREMIUM layer mash, no cheap pellets, and kitchen scraps plus a lot of veggies i.e. lettuce, carrots, boiled sweet potatoes, and fresh corn.
I have lost 4 girls in a month now and need to know if it's serious.
Thx.

 

[Judy]

I have no idea but am subscribing and hoping someone comes along who does know.

 

[PortageGirl]

This sounds odd... it could be pealed or scraped off? Hmmmm, don't see how it can be from their feed... do they have mites or any other kind of parasite around their vents or under their wings?

Where are you located at?

I know it's not exactly an emergency, though if you have lost that many, it's sounding serious... look here >> https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=3569 and try to answer whatever questions seem most relevant so people in the know have a little more to go on. Climate and available browse could have something to do with it. Have they all just cocked up their heals that way and keeled over?

I've had chickens a long time, but haven't nearly the experience with illness that others here have had. I'm very curious about this one myself, and concerned for your flock as well of course. This is why this site is so helpful, lots of things no one has ever seen, but always a learning opportunity.

 

[tulie13]

Wow - I've never heard of that! I Googled, and found descriptions of a worm that causes this, a worm that lodges in the throat of the bird. The only worm that I know of that does that is called a Gape Worm. Can you see any worms in the birds' throats?

I understand Gape Worm is more common in South America/Tropical areas but also the Southern/Southeastern US - where are you located?

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Possibly wet pox? Except the lesions usually bleed some if you try to peel them off.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

I'm a bit confused by your phrasing of their food ("PREMIUM layer mash, no cheap pellets"). Pellets are a form of chicken feed, which has no bearing on the quality or ingredients. Ditto for mash. Pellets, crumbles and mash can be premium in nutrition and ingredients, or the pits.

Most brands make all forms, and in fact, all forms originate as pellets. The ingredients are ground and mixed, then heat extruded into pellets, then ground into crumbles or mash if those are the desired product.