HELP, almost laying hen is having problems

[Thebossbaby]

i found here like this, acting normal, but this disturbed me. This is on top of her back, behind head

 

[Thebossbaby]

Is it lice?

 

[SeaPolka]

Do you have a cockerel? Looks like an over mated hen. If not then you should check for lice

 

[Thebossbaby]

It's a hen, but she hasn't been mated. He only mates the laying hens

 

[aart]

That didn't happen fast.
That's some serious de-feathering for a bird too young to lay.
I'd bet she's being feather pecked.

Knowing more about your goals for keeping chickens,
your flock size(numbers, ages, genders),
your coop(size in feet by feet with pics),
and what and how exactly you are feeding,
might offer clues to if there is a solvable problem.

 

[Thebossbaby]

But she was fine 3 days ago!! I pick all my chickens up and examine them every three days

 

[aart]

But she was fine 3 days ago!! I pick all my chickens up and examine them every three days

Huh!!...predator attack?
That's a lot of feathers to lose in 3 days!

 

[Thebossbaby]

I think it's live, I have dusted we in diatomaceous earth, but she was gonna be my star bird, she is/ was very pretty, i can't just kill her, I don't have another coop, do I need to isolate her? If she is in pain than I might be able to put her down, but ittl be very very hard to do, she is an animal after all

 

[aart]

Culling is last resort.

First you need to find out why and how it happened.
Examining the birds environment and understanding their social behaviors is the first step.

I asked you some questions above the would help find the issue.

Lice isn't going to make that happen in 3 days.
DE will not kill a lice infestation.
But always good to do a bug check regularly......
...you must see and ID the bug before treating.

 

[Thebossbaby]

gosh, thats ore money and time than I could buy 5 more chickens with isn't it? lol, thanks for the info ill do what I can. if it continues to get worse than ill put her down, but not gratefully or happily.