CluckkyKrista
Chirping
- Jan 6, 2024
- 51
- 206
- 96
Hello all you lovely chicken-loving peeps, I’m reposting this as I still need help (turns out it’s not smart posting for help on election night 
) Anyway, I noticed feather loss on two of my girls now more than a month ago (mostly on Matilda our 1yr old copper Maran and Ella our grey Easter Egger). I thought it might be a first molt initially (it’s spring here in Aus and these girls are mostly around 16 months old). I examined them and couldn’t find any signs of mites but discovered a small number of red mites at night under the roost bar. I pulled everything out and gave the coop a good clean and treatment with Madison50. I also treated the girls with a topical spray and pestene (also in the nest boxes). The feather loss seems to be continuing and I’m concerned about the extent of the bald patches, and the red and scaly skin (pics below).
Other info that might be helpful:
I’d welcome any advice - especially help working out what the issue might be. Didn’t expect such dry red skin if molting and would have imagined feathers would be coming through more by now - is that right? Concerns also about her foot (pic below).
Thanks!
Krista
) Anyway, I noticed feather loss on two of my girls now more than a month ago (mostly on Matilda our 1yr old copper Maran and Ella our grey Easter Egger). I thought it might be a first molt initially (it’s spring here in Aus and these girls are mostly around 16 months old). I examined them and couldn’t find any signs of mites but discovered a small number of red mites at night under the roost bar. I pulled everything out and gave the coop a good clean and treatment with Madison50. I also treated the girls with a topical spray and pestene (also in the nest boxes). The feather loss seems to be continuing and I’m concerned about the extent of the bald patches, and the red and scaly skin (pics below).Other info that might be helpful:
- All the girls free range during the day
- I haven’t witnessed bullying or feather pulling (but also not a lot of feathers in the coop)
- Two have gone broody but they’re not the ones showing major feather loss
- All seem to have good energy and be eating, socialising and laying. That said, Matilda (our copper Maran and most scraggly) hasn’t layed in a month or so.
- Poop looks mostly normal but they free range so hard to see
- Other chickens are showing some light feather loss around their tails (last pic) but skin looks healthier and nothing like the patches on Matilda and Ella.
I’d welcome any advice - especially help working out what the issue might be. Didn’t expect such dry red skin if molting and would have imagined feathers would be coming through more by now - is that right? Concerns also about her foot (pic below).
Thanks!
Krista
. Will get on treatment for bumble foot - maybe look at taking her to the VET. We are continuing mite treatment… still minor but I’m aware they’re hard to get rid of. Any recommendations for articles/advice on feather picking if that’s the underlying issue?
