Help please. India Blue chick. What's wrong with it's head

[Benelli]

I've got three India Blues about 5 months old with no issues.

I recently rec'd three more, about two months old. One died last week and I have no idea why. Now, one of the others seems a little lethargic. It's head feathers are missing until you hit it's little sprouting crest. The area is kind of chalky/scaly white. The other one seems fine for now. Any clues?

I have them near my six chickens(hens) and my three roaming peafowl. I move their tractor cage daily.

Thanks for any and all help. L

 

[chickenzoo]

Do you see any lice or mites in their feathers? Do you worm your peafowl? It could be worms, or black head diease. I know for black head you can go to the pets store and purchase a fish medicine called Fishzole. I'm not sure of the dose for peachicks. You can worm with Safeguard liquid goat wormer if you see no mites/lice. 1/4 cc directly in mouth, being careful not to asperaite them. If you see lice/mites I would worm w/Safeguard and then dust them very well in seven dust or Poultry dust. We typically use Ivomectrin that kills most worms & lice/mites, but if your's are that weak ivomec wormers might make them worse..... or kill them. Safeguard is pretty safe to use.

 

[Benelli]

Thanks for the info. They're not very friendly, so I've not inpected that closely. I do put diatomecous earth in everyones feed and bedding for worms and lice control. I'll pick it up this evening and see if I can see anything. Thanks for the info!!! L

 

[verthandi]

Quote:
Does the scaly area look like it is dried powdery food stuck all over the bird's head? and does it form in patches? Just curious, as I had some hens that I purchased develop something like that. It was a fungal problem and athletes foot cream applied for a couple of days took care of it. Then I also discovered they were loaded with mites.

 

[Benelli]

Ah, interesting. It is flaky and it's lost it's little head feathers. Didn't see any mites though. We've had a ton of rain here lately and that could be what's going on. I've got some cream to apply. I'll try anything at this point. I gave them sand with diatomeous earth and some seven dust mixed in too, just in case...........Thanks!!!

 

[chickenzoo]

DE is good for small infestations of some worms/parasites but if they have a life threatening load chemical wormers are needed...... just keep an eye on them.