Feather loss and lack of re-growth / naked in winter =[

[BennieAnTheJets]

Any help much appreciated!

We have had feather/quill mites again this year and I treated successfully (again) with ivermectin pour-on but Peggy Sue is developing bald spots – she must have something else going on - even after the ivermectin treatment, her feathers did not grow back - actually she is becoming naked in spots - Everyone else grew their feathers back after treatment

The quills are broken lengthwise due to the mite damage, and then we had some grain mites in the coop and I think they may have chewed her feather stumps off to the skin

We went to the vet and they looked at a broken feather and a tape test off her skin under the microscope and they looked at her skin with a black light to check for ring worm, but found nothing – put her on an antibiotic that I have to give her in the beak twice a day, but I am not even sure it is a bacterial infection

Have any of you seen anything like this? It seems to be in patches and her wing is one such patch
(please see pictures from a while back - it has gotten worse) Do you know what it may be and what may help her?

Please let us know!

She is otherwise healthy (and very pissed that I catch her and put her in the warm bathroom overnight in a carrier and force her to eat “that stuff”) – but she is pitiful in the coop standing up what is left of her back feathers over her bald spots because she is cold – and her wing skin is always exposed – wish she could have her feathers back for the winter – hope this is not fatal – the others don’t seem to have it – just her – hormonal problems maybe - ???

 

[Jessdesk]

She is very pretty.

Would it help to add a little protein and calcium for feather growth?

 

[BennieAnTheJets]

Hi Jessdesk,

Thank you for your kind response! She is a pretty girl - even though she is getting a little scruffy now. =]

Yes, they have meal worms and oyster shell - everyone is doing great, except this little girl - must be something wrong there.

If I could only figure out what???

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Greetings BennieAnTheJets,

I had something similar happen with two of my chickens, a Black Star and Black Ameruacana. Both had damage to their wing,s primary feathers.

I discovered this was the work of 'Feather Lice'. They travel on rodents, wild life and especially, wild birds. I decided to treat their coop, the run, and the rest of the flock with Elector PSP spray. The Ameruacana still has sufficient wing feathers, but hasn't replaced the damaged primaries yet.

It's been really hard on the Black Star, she is unable to get up on the perch without her primary feathers. So, I put her up each evening. But, things are getting better, her primary feathers have finally started to regrow. So, its been almost 11 months since her feathers were damaged!

Your Guinea may just take a while to regrow those feathers.

However, that bald spot on her wing...it looks like something a rooster would do while mating.

Do you have a rooster?

What lead to those feathers being only nubs?

She may be stressed, which is not helping her feather regrowth. Stress is a major factor in feather loss. It can be environmental, like extreme weather or social, other birds picking at her, for example.

I would just keep providing extra meat protein a couple times a week. She needs protein to regrow those feathers.

I would't give antibotics if there wasn't a life threatning illness. Her skin looks OK. Antibiotics will diminish her gut flora, which is vital for feather development too. Provide her with poultry probiotics to restore her gut flora.

At this point if the Vet couldn't I.D. the problem, and she is in general good health, it may be good to just focus on nurturing her health with food, herbs and vitamin supplementation.

I can see how you would be worried about the cold too. Guineas are good at staying warm, but there are times when they can get cold too. Maybe she'll need a custom saddle with wing covers for the winter. And you can take it off on sunny days and to examine her feathers. And when she molts again, her feathers will be in good shape.

Anyways, I understand your concern. Hope my thoughts are helpful.

God Bless.