Feathers all over the garden!

[Ruby Rivers]

Our large white girl has a dirty vent

and is losing the feathers rapidly around that area. Could anyone shed some light on this please?

 

[AtlantisPeeps]

Most likely could be lice or mites.. I suggest giving her a bath In luke warm water. Clean the area around the vent well. Then apply a mite/lice powder all over (make sure to get it under the feathers.). See if that helps. Now, you need to also dust the rest of your chickens, and put a layer of it down in your coop.

 

[mrsc1951]

It is the time of year when many chickens molt and that could be the reason for feather loss. Other causes for a dirty bottom include worms/parasites. Dawg53 has some wonderful info on worming and I know that one wormer should not be used during molt because it can cause stunted feather growth. I can't remember which one that is. Type worming chickens into the search bar and you will find a wealth of information. Mites/lice don't cause dirty butts.

 

[AtlantisPeeps]

It is the time of year when many chickens molt and that could be the reason for feather loss. Other causes for a dirty bottom include worms/parasites. Dawg53 has some wonderful info on worming and I know that one wormer should not be used during molt because it can cause stunted feather growth. I can't remember which one that is. Type worming chickens into the search bar and you will find a wealth of information. Mites/lice don't cause dirty butts.

Mites/lice can cause dirty butts, as the droppings from them appear as dirt.

 

[mrsc1951]

IMHO, it would take an incredible infestation of lice or mites for their droppings to show as dirt plus, as the chickens dust bathe, they would shake most of that off. From all that I've read, when people talk about dirty butts it usually means poop stuck to the feathers around the vent.