Feather loss, bare pink skin post lice treatment

[meadrian]

Six weeks ago I found lice on all three of my girls and treated them with Sevin Dust. Two days later they were gone, but treated them again in 7 more days. I also cleaned everything out and treated the run. Haven't seen any since.

My oldest, who is almost 11 months had lost alot of feathers by her vent and shows lots of bare pink skin. It's not inflamed. My question is when will her feathers grow back? She has a tail, but not much of one. She's pretty much got a bald bum. Anything I should be doing for her? I've increased their protein, but anything else? Her laying has slowed down quite a bit, too, but that could be because it's winter...couldn't it?

Looking forward to any suggestions, ideas, thougts or experiences! Thanks!

 

[aveca]

Yep they slow down eggs a bit in winter , has to do with length of light in the sky, people use lights in thier barns till 8 PM to prompt them back into regular egg laying.

It takes quite a while and a lot of energy to replace feathers.. It does take a little more protein in the diet and a little oil , just a little helps. I use sunflower seeds for the oil, or sunflower oil in feed. Its not good to feed high protein for a long long time . It can for a prolonged program cause system falures. Ours are cut down to around 16 , even lower in off show season and given shredded carrots and things like that offered. I have a miserable looking rooster right now, he is molting and his neck is pretty bare here and there and I actually think he is embarrassed about it. cant wait for those neck feathers to come back he looks like a raggy mess.
Somone in here is giving some meal worms, I thought that sounds like a pretty good idea as a winter supplement.

 

[Southernbelle]

She could be molting. I have a few that are hard molters and they look truly pitiful for a long time.

 

[meadrian]

Do they molt their first year? Funny...when I said I'm giving them a little extra protein it's meal worms and raw sunflower seeds! They get it about 3 times a week for the past 2 weeks. They also eat 16% layer pellets, fresh greens, vegetables and some whole grains...plus free range a couple hours a day. So it could be molt then, and not necessarily from the lice? I guess it really doesn't matter. I jsut wanted to make sure she was OK and when to expect to see some feather growth. Sounds like it'll be awhile! Being top of the pecking order, if she's IS embarrased, she sure isn't showing it!

Thanks!

 

[dgh]

5-7 drops of injectiable ivemectin orally for full size birds.
3 drops for bantams.
treat face and cuticle with neosporin and polysporin

 

[dgh]

get some FOOD GRADE diatomatious earth on ebay and use it in litter , nesting boxes and 1 teaspoon in 25lbs of layer.

 

[meadrian]

Thanks. I'll get some ivermectin. We have neosporin. I've used DE religiously in their nest, coop, run and dust baths. Oh, and their food. That's why I was suprised to see lice. But I'll continue using it. I have a huge tub of it. (Garden use, too) Thanks, again!

 

[aveca]

Quote:
I know, my rooster looks like a mess , he acts embarrassed about it too. He comes outside, crows then goes right back inside. Poor thing..

It can take months to replace feathers a little extra protien can help.

Usually they start molt in 2nd year, it slows egg production, they act a little miserable, they look pretty bad. Lice treatment never hurts but remember it takes a long time to replace what is lost even to mite damage,Ive never used 7 befor. Just the poultry dust. Thats a new one on me.

 

[dgh]

Quote:
Its food grade , right, because the garden type is a carcinogen and doesn't kill lice or mites.
Food grade is microscopic sea animal skeletons and is a fine dry powder.

You know if you just dusted with seven, the ivemectin may be too many chemicals. I'd ask a vet if you dusted recently.

you know, someone who knows more about chickens than I do told me protein wasn't what grows feather, but carbs, like corn. and bread. I wonder if anyone can verify this?

 

[meadrian]

Interesting. Good point. I agree, I think the ivermectin right after dusting is probably not a good idea. It's been at least 3 weeks since the last dusting and I haven't seen any more on them. And I've been chcecking regularly now. They're all active, eating, squaking and such so I think they're OK. I was just concerned with those bald spots. Not because I think she's cold, just because there's so much I don't know that I might miss treating her for something I'm unaware of.