Gunky plaque on chickens head

[slmwatts]

I’ve been having trouble one after another lately after 5 years with chickens with NO problems. A 2yr old roo died mysteriously 2 weeks ago. A month old chick died mysteriously a week ago and I’ve got one 2 yr old hen with water belly. Now this! We’ve been fighting fleas like mad so forgive me for those, but what is this white gunk on the hen’s head? I’ve noticed it around her eyes mostly and possibly on her ear area. Ideas? I’m hoping it’s not whatever killed the others!

 

[micstrachan]

Poor dear! It’s in her eye, whatever it is. Are there any respiratory symptoms? Also, and I mean to be gentle, as I am not judging, just trying to help, all three in the photos appear to have an issue of some kind. Is that the fleas? Are they those stick ‘em fleas or whatever they’re called? Have you brought in the big guns like permethrin or spinosad? I’m wondering if she could have some sort of secondary infection from flea sores.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Awe. Your flock looks like something is bothering them for sure. It looks like they might be fighting scaly leg mites too? Though it could just be the pixels of the photo?
What is water belly? I've not heard of that, but I am pretty new to chickens.

 

[micstrachan]

Awe. Your flock looks like something is bothering them for sure. It looks like they might be fighting scaly leg mites too? Though it could just be the pixels of the photo?
What is water belly? I've not heard of that, but I am pretty new to chickens.

Water belly is ascites, which is accumulation of fluid in the abdomen. Can be caused from a number of different things, including organ failure, egg yolk peritonitis, cancer, infection, and maybe other things, too I can’t think of at the moment.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Water belly is ascites, which is accumulation of fluid in the abdomen. Can be caused from a number of different things, including organ failure, egg yolk peritonitis, cancer, infection, and maybe other things, too I can’t think of at the moment.

Thanks for the explanation.

 

[slmwatts]

Awe. Your flock looks like something is bothering them for sure. It looks like they might be fighting scaly leg mites too? Though it could just be the pixels

I’ve never heard of scaly leg mites? But I’ve noticed their legs look terrible. The stick-tight fleas are horrible! I’ve been spraying the coop and their dust bath areas, and the chickens themselves, with liquid Sevin every two weeks. But they are free range and I can’t ever seem to get them completely gone.

 

[slmwatts]

Poor dear! It’s in her eye, whatever it is. Are there any respiratory symptoms? Also, and I mean to be gentle, as I am not judging, just trying to help, all three in the photos appear to have an issue of some kind. Is that the fleas? Are they those stick ‘em fleas or whatever they’re called? Have you brought in the big guns like permethrin or spinosad? I’m wondering if she could have some sort of secondary infection from flea sores.

I havent noticed any respiratory issues. They definitely have feather/skin issues. I thought it was from fleas and have been spraying with liquid Sevin. I’m open to any possible other treatments!??

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I’ve been having trouble one after another lately after 5 years with chickens with NO problems. A 2yr old roo died mysteriously 2 weeks ago. A month old chick died mysteriously a week ago and I’ve got one 2 yr old hen with water belly. Now this! We’ve been fighting fleas like mad so forgive me for those, but what is this white gunk on the hen’s head? I’ve noticed it around her eyes mostly and possibly on her ear area. Ideas? I’m hoping it’s not whatever killed the others!

I agree with @micstrachan and @Soon2BChixMom it looks like you have scaly leg mites along with a few other problems.

The gunky stuff on your chicken's face and ears I would guess is from the fleas and mites.
You will need to try to get the parasites under control to start getting the eyes/ears better and your chickens back in good health.

Eyes can be flushed with saline to remove the pus - then apply an ophthalmic ointment like Terramycin - you can use plain triple antibiotic ointment if you have to. Ears -apply a couple of drops of hydrogen peroxide, let that bubble up some of the gunk, remove what you can and apply a triple antibiotic ointment. The ointment in the ears and the eyes will help smother any mites/fleas that are in them, but you will want stay on top of keeping the ears/eyes cleared away.

Sticktight fleas - you can help smother them with vaseline or even your triple antibiotic ointment. Since you are dealing with the face/eyes, then ointment may be better - this will help heal up the wounds they leave behind. From what I understand - even if you smother the sticktight fleas, they have to be manually pulled off (they sticktight)-so use some tweezers to pull them off once they are dead - if you have someone that can help you that would be good.

Permethrin based poultry sprays or dusts can be found at most feed stores http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1151513/pesticides-approved-for-poultry
Treat all your chickens, clean out the bedding and treat the coop/nesting boxes. Repeat treatment in 7-10days. Since you have a heavy infestation you may want to repeat the application in another 7-10days for a total of 3 treatments.
You can use Spinosad as mentioned earlier - more information can be found here http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification/

Permethrin is not effective on Scaly Leg Mites so you will need to apply an oil/ointment of choice to the legs. It's best to soak the legs first to loosen dirt and soften the scales a little. Coconut oil, castor oil, A+D ointment, NuStock, etc can be used to treat SLM. The idea is to smother the microscopic mites that live under the scales.
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/scaly-leg-mites-in-chickens/

Do what you can to get your flock back in health. Offer them some poultry vitamins a couple of times a week along with some extra protein. A little beef liver, tuna or egg would be good.

Also consider having a fecal float to check for worms.

I'm very sorry that you lost your rooster and chick. It would be hard to know the cause of death without a necropsy.
Keep us posted.