Head and neck feathers white at roots

[anlawrence]

My otherwise healthy and happy hen seems to be showing head and neck feathers that are white at the root. She is no particular breed (she came from a local farm so is kind of a mix) but is her colouring is golden brown rather like a Buff Orpington.

Any ideas what this could be? She's pretty hard to catch but when I have observed her close up while feeding on treats I cannot see anything that would suggest lice etc. Her vent area and the rest of her seems fine. It's just the head area.

Grateful for any thoughts/advice.

Warm regards
Angie
Isle of Man
Great Britain

 

[Judy]

Is it possibly lice/mites or their eggs? This link is pretty good for pics, though I've seen better:

http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme-fact/0018.html

 

[anlawrence]

Thanks for responding Judy. No I can't see anything like that (phew!) AND I am wearing my new glasses!

All her other feathers seem lovely, strong and shiny and she has a particularly fine set of tail feathers following a soft moult.
Her appetite is fine and she is lively enough (although has not laid an egg for some weeks but I am not surprised due to the low light levels here and the afore-mentioned soft moult.

Thanks for taking the trouble to find that interesting article for me!

Angie

 

[Judy]

I'm so glad!

Maybe it has to do with her genetics, then. That is one subject I know absolutely nothing about!

 

[anlawrence]

UH-OH! Took the opportunity of checking Betty more closely today and she DOES have some spiky quills on her head which COULD be lice I guess. Her pal Margo also has some whitish feathers. The two new girls show no signs - as yet.

I guess a touch of lice spray would not hurt. I don't fancy the method of putting Betty in a garbage bag with powder in and dusting her down by shaking the bag - sounds a bit traumatic for both of us! Sort of Shake without the Bake

Thanks again for responding.

Warm regards
Angie
Isle of Man

 

[Judy]

Spiky quills sounds like she is molting, and regrowing feathers.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/580915/for-the-new-folks-that-havent-experienced-a-molt-yet/0_20