Molt or mites?

[Thehappyheifer]

My frizzle cochins are losing feathers around their eyes, they were hatched out around the last week of April. My hen only has missing feathers around eyes ,but roo has a few missing on his chest. Mites or Molt? What do I do?

 

[Crazy Chicken MaMa]

From what i understand they won't molt till next spring(thats what I was told about my flockand their around 8 months old) as far as any buggies I dust mine with Diatomaceous Earth. I do it outside that way there is plenty of ventilation. And I haven't had any kind of infestations. You might wanna try it. Use a super bright flashlight look really close you might see something moving if there's bugs on them. Good luck !!!

 

[Thehappyheifer]

The kid at tsc was dead set on me not buying any "dust" and kept saying I was wasting money,So I paid for my other items and walked out. I may go to the local feed store tomorrow for it.

From what i understand they won't molt till next spring(thats what I was told about my flockand their around 8 months old) as far as any buggies I dust mine with Diatomaceous Earth. I do it outside that way there is plenty of ventilation. And I haven't had any kind of infestations. You might wanna try it. Use a super bright flashlight look really close you might see something moving if there's bugs on them. Good luck !!!

 

[JaeG]

DE isn't effective when it comes to mites (believe me, after a 6 week battle with red mite I know!) and red mites don't stay on the birds but hide out in your coop during the day, feasting at night. So you need to identify what you are dealing with to determine the best course of action as it could also be lice. Wipe under the roost bars to see if you come up with blood streaks/squished bugs - that's red mite. Do your birds free range or come into contact with wild birds or rodents? Those can carry parasites that end up infecting your birds. If you are in the US you should be able to get permethrin spray to deal with external parasites.

Here's a good website for identifying external parasites:
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/08/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification.html

Young birds shouldn't molt until they are around 18 months old, though I had one pullet who did at just on a year old.

 

[Kiki]

The kid at tsc was dead set on me not buying any "dust" and kept saying I was wasting money,So I paid for my other items and walked out. I may go to the local feed store tomorrow for it.

I love this kid already!!!!

 

[Machineryqueen]

My birds were hatched 5/1/17 and 5/8/17. Some are molting. They go thru a third molt at approximately 18 to 20 weeks. My roosters definitely lost neck feathers and they are currently half way grown in. My hens lost some feathers as the coop floor will attest to, but they do not have any bare spots. I do not have any bugs on the birds or in the coop. I check my flock daily. I would not treat them unless you find evidence of any mites or lice. May just be the 3rd molt.

 

[Machineryqueen]

I may have the number of weeks wrong. I am trying to find my source where I read that. However, I did find this site for you. https://www.communitychickens.com/juvenile-molting-in-chickens/

 

[Thehappyheifer]

I haven't seen any and I handle them daily. They aren't acting as if they're itchy either,which is what had me confused and again it's only my two cochins ( the first chickens I acquired) . Right now, byc is my lifeline. I got my first chicks in May with zero concerns until now.

I may have the number of weeks wrong. I am trying to find my source where I read that. However, I did find this site for you. https://www.communitychickens.com/juvenile-molting-in-chickens/

 

[Thehappyheifer]

Thanks for the information! I'll definitely be looking into that site and the spray. They have an outdoor run, so anything is possibly . I dont free range, i have a mobile coop to avoid "horse related incidents " and to keep them away from the neighbors.

DE isn't effective when it comes to mites (believe me, after a 6 week battle with red mite I know!) and red mites don't stay on the birds but hide out in your coop during the day, feasting at night. So you need to identify what you are dealing with to determine the best course of action as it could also be lice. Wipe under the roost bars to see if you come up with blood streaks/squished bugs - that's red mite. Do your birds free range or come into contact with wild birds or rodents? Those can carry parasites that end up infecting your birds. If you are in the US you should be able to get permethrin spray to deal with external parasites.

Here's a good website for identifying external parasites:
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/08/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification.html

Young birds shouldn't molt until they are around 18 months old, though I had one pullet who did at just on a year old.