Grey fluff at the base of bum feathers?

[Redberry]

Hi!
I am new to this forum, and am very pleased to have found you. My first 6 chickens were exbattery hens - all fantastic characters. I now have only one remaining of the exbats, Dizzy Rascal, and she has taken very well to the 6 new pullets that we bought 6 weeks ago. She must be about 4 years old now, the vet tells me that thats about the span for an exbat. However, she is still mostly well, and intermittently lays a ginormous egg, like a ducks.

She is a bit lazy now, and isn't too particular about her preening and dust bathing. So, to remove the caked on plop from her bum, last week I gave her a warm bath. She seemed to enjoy it - it was a warm day, and I carried her around in a towel for 15 mins before putting her down in the garden and all her feathers fluffed back up. However, while I was bathing her, I noticed what looks like grey fluff at the base of each bum feather, that would not wash off. Today, she seems miserable though. Hunched up and uninterested. I checked the pullets, and there was no grey fluff. Has Dizzy got some sort of parasite, or is this fluff normal for a mature bird?

Very grateful for any help/advice

 

[dsqard]

If the grey fluff looks like what is in this picture (not my picture, "borrowed" from the internet)

then I would say you have a lice problem. If you search "treating lice" you will get good advice on how to get rid of them.

ETA -

 

[Redberry]

Thats exactly what it looks like! I have been so paranoid about redmite, i missed this one - thank you sooooooo much! I have lice powder, should I separate her from the others, ie do they live on the bird or in the housing - she sleeps in a seperate hut, by choice, but mixes during the day?

 

[dsqard]

I would suggest just treating them all at the same time. That way if the other chickens have any creepy crawlies on them you can catch it early. I would also suggest treating their coops just to avoid reinfestation.

 

[Redberry]

Thank you so much - off to do it now ......

 

[urbanfarmer101]

Don't forget to change your bedding, treat the perches and also the nesting boxes. I have battled lice before, urgh...

 

[Ridgerunner]

And retreat in about 10 days. The treatment does not get the eggs, so you need ot get the new ones that hatch out.

Good luck! It is a pain that many of us share.