Feather Loss

[emmurrayfarms]

For two years my chicken has always lost her feathers. I've seen her pick at them a few times. She is very small and can occasionally get picked on. Not too long ago did noticed that she had mites and we were able to get rid of them. She finally had quite a few growing until today. It seems like every time they start regrowing she loses them again. I separated her from the others put some miracle oil on her back and then some salve. It was very red, the pictures don't do it justice. One of my coworkers mentioned getting a saddle for her to help speed up the process....but I'd like to get some opinions

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

You didn’t mention whether or not you had a rooster. If not, getting a saddle for her May not be the solution. I would spray some BLU-kote on her. It will heal the area + prevent further feather plucking. Win, Win! Good luck with her!!! It looks so painful!!!!

 

[emmurrayfarms]

Sorry yes we do have roosters in the pen she was in but now it's just her, temporarily. Yesss I didn't even think of blu kote! Thank you!!

 

[RNK Farms]

I am not a vet however I do have an idea for you. Considering she had mites this may help. Mites eggs have a life cycle depending on what kind but usually you kill mites but not the eggs. To really get rid of mites here is a plan of action to follow. In three different buckets fill one with water for rinsing fill one with baby shampoo and then the other bucket fill with peroxide, borax laundry soap, water, and a little coconut oil. Put her in the first bucket with baby shampoo and gently lather her up, then put her in the bucket that has just water and make sure to get all the soap off of her, lastly dip her for 5 minutes in the borax, peroxide, and coconut oil mixture. Do not rinse or wipe her down afterwards. She will look very oily and have white sand on her body you want that to remain on her. Please be extra careful not to get in her mouth or eyes. Do this every other day to kill the eggs as well as mites, lice, ect. It really works and I have used this for years as I do it monthly just as a preventative. The coconut oil is good to smoother lice and it also helps aid in the repair of skin and feathers. You should keep this up for 2 weeks to make sure any eggs that where laid will die.