HELP! Really Sick Chicken

[stevejr]

I noticed a bare spot and scab on the backs of one of my 3 RIR's. It first appeared about a month ago and it looked as thougn she had gotten pecked. I put ointment on it a couple of times to help it from drying out but it remained. Now this morning, after a week or so of feeding at night I finally got good look at the 3 of them and this poor chicken is in bad shape! Please see the pic. She has lost a lot of feathers, has trouble walking and standing and looks as though worms are growing out of her back. Can this be cured???

Thank you!

 

[stevejr]

Here is the link to the pictures. I can't figure out how to upload it to my post.

Thanks.

 

[lauralou]

Hey Steve,

From looking at the second picture, it seems to me that the bird is molting, and those "worms" are actually new feathers growing in. The feathers start out in a strange-looking shaft thing, then the feather itself pushes out the end as it grows. Now, I could be wrong about that. Maybe there's something else there that I'm not seeing.

As far as her having trouble walking and standing, well, molting really wouldn't explain that. Mine sometimes seem a bit lethargic and out of it when they molt. I was just commenting on one of my ladies not being able to compete for treats this morning because of her molt. She's not in bad shape or anything, just a little slower on the draw than her sisters.

I really hope that someone else will be able to advise you on that.

 

[meriruka]

Can't really see the wound in the pics, but make sure it is closed, dry and there is nothing in it, like maggots or dirt.
Looks like she gas new feathers growing in. Do you have a rooster? If so, is she his favorite?

If not, make sure she is eating & poop looks normal. Some extra protein will help or poultry vitamins.
Check the bottoms of her feet, make sure the pads are pink and soft. Check her vent as well.

Also check for lice or mites - lift the feathers and look at the skin, see if you can see anything moving.

That's all I can't think of........... hope she recovers for you.

 

[stevejr]

Thank you both so much. I do not have a rooster and have only had chickens for a few months and never experienced Molting. Now that I think about it, "lethargic" is a better way to describe her behavior. I immediately took that deviation from her normal self as being sick. The wound itself is no worse than it was, and is dry. She is eating and drinking, though isn't really active. I will check her for mites and also inspect her feet this evening.

Thanks again!

 

[lauralou]

Well, if "lethargic" is a good description of her behavior, then it's probably just a normal molt. I really hope so! Just keep an eye on her as much as possible, to be sure. I try to give my girls extra protein when they are molting. At my house this comes in the form of meat. Some folks don't feed their birds meat, and that's cool. To each his own.

But mine love it! Raw, cooked without salt, big tasty grubworms, Mmm Mmmm...

 

[PortageGirl]

Yep, looks like molting to me too. They get grumpy when they're molting, sometimes they sort of keep to themselves and 'hide' as if they know they aren't pretty and they stop laying. She'll get back with the others as soon as her feathers come in more and she'll be more social.

 

[tulie13]

She might need a little extra protein to help those feathers come back - feed her some yogurt and maybe some scrambled egg (fully cooked so she doesn't get a taste for raw egg). Your roo might be "overmating" her, too. Good luck!

 

[stevejr]

You all have made me and my wife feel so much better! I never realized molting would look like that.

How long does this usually last for?

 

[mypicklebird]

about 2-3 weeks for her to grow out her feathers and look nice again, her pin feathers are about 1/3- 1/2 out already.