Favorolle fallen ill

[samhushagen]

Hi,

My one year old (approximately) favorolle mix appears to be having some health problems. I initially noticed her lethargy - a lot of sitting when the other ladies were pecking about, thouhg she is still eating and does appear to have an appetite. Next I noticed decreased egg production. Spurred by these problems I took a closer look at her, and discovered she had scale mites, on which I commenced treatment with a gentle scrub and vaseline, as well as DM in the coop. While I was lubing up her feet I noticed a lot of feather loss (so bad that while I was massaging in the vaseline it was getting gummed up with feathers). Her belly has gone bare, as have the inside of her legs. This morning I awoke to find her wings starting to drop feathers, and a hefty pile under her roosting corner. I know the feathers aren't being pulled out by another bird. I wonder if she has a feather mite as well. I didn't notice any lice or mites on her bald belly or in her comb. The other ladies are fine - not a health problem to be found.

I know space isn't an issue. My four birds have the run of a 25x10 enclosure, with ample room in the hen house. Nor is it food or water shortage. They have access to organic laying pellets all day, as well as all the greens they can eat which I collect from the co-op where I work. They get a scratching mix in the day to help keep them active.

I'm rather concerned about this hen. She appears to have lost a little weight, though she still has energy and vigorously resists handling for the scaly leg treatment. Could she be losing feathers because of the stress associated with the mites and their eradication? She is about one year old, so could this be merely molting? Any ideas you experts out there have would be a great help. Pictures will be forthcoming. Thanks!
-Sam Hushagen

 

[PeeperKeeper]

Hi! Yes at one year of age she could be molting. And with the addition of possible mite infestation, it all would lend to taking the energy right out of her. I'd seperate her from the rest of the flock.
Check out the others and make sure they are treated for any possible problems, nip it in the bud, so to say.
For little faverolle, feed a little higher protein diet. That can be done by feeding a scrambled or hard boiled egg to her once a day. Yogurt is great for the digestive track and a little DE (food grade) in the yogurt will help eliminate any parasites as well.
When a hen starts to molt, she needs protein to regrow her feathers, If she is not laying eggs and seperated from the rest of the flock, I'd treat with a little sevin dust or some other poultry delicer as to make sure you get rid of the bugs.
Also check your coop for signs of mite eggs. I believe it looks frosty and will be along the roosts and edging boards of the coop.
Poly-Vi-Sol baby vitamins, without iron, is good to give any girl a boost also. One dropper full once a day for 3-5 days should help.
Offer plenty of fresh water and keep her in a place she feels safe.
Good Luck,
PeeperKeeper

 

[samhushagen]

Thanks for the tips! I checked the house and no sign of any critters or eggs. I intend on doing some liberal DE application in the hen house and on the fresh bedding I've put down. I will also make those nutritional changes to give her a little more pep. What is the best method for treating her with the Sevin dust? Thanks again for the advice! This is the first problem I've had with my birds and it has me pretty concerned, so I really appreciate the guidance.
-Sam

 

[chickenmeadow]

Maybe sprinkle some DE (diatomaceous earth) in each of the nest boxes. DE attacks mites & lice without pesticides, it's sold in a gardening section of some stores.

Here's my recipe for an outdoor dust bath, just put 4" to 6" in a kittly litter tray (or the like) & keep it out for the chickens all of the time in a dry area that they frequent. It works well for me to prevent the problem. Good luck!

NATURAL CHICKEN DUST BATH
1 pt DE (diatomaceous earth)
1 pt wood ash (from woodstove or fireplace)
1 pt sand
1 pt road dust (fine dusty dirt)

 

[samhushagen]

I just installed a covered dust bath for the girls. Thanks for the great advice!
-Sam

 

[chickenzoo]

Does she have any watery or bubbly eyes? MG can cause feather loss, slow egg production and loss of weight .... just a thought to check on. Also has she been wormed at all?

 

[samhushagen]

Her eyes look fine. I was going to administer a dewormer to the whole flock this weekend just to make sure her weight loss isn't critter related. She looked a little perkier today; feet still rather rough, though some of the gnarlier scales appear to be softening under the vaseline, and the feet look better in general. More feathers under her roost this morning. She has lost just about all her belly feathers, and the outsides of the wings, leading to the back are thinning. Strikes me as a strange molting pattern, which I hope it is. I've upped her protein to compensate for the energy loss. I've been altering protein intake by supplementing food with cheap canned fish. Any other suggestions? Thanks a lot guys!
-Sam