Molting or infection?

[red1leah]

Hello! I’m new to chickens. I have 8 Australorp hens right at a year old. All healthy and all laying until the last week. I just noticed that one’s head is missing feathers and her comb has white powdery spots… this is also starting on another hen. We have no rooster. Is this molting? Or am I looking at something more serious? HELP

 

[Chicks in VA]

@The-White-Elephant @MysteryChicken
im sorry i dont know but they might know or they might know someone that could know
hopefully molting

 

[Kiki]

Do you have a rooster?
What size is your coop and what exactly do you feed?
Have you checked the birds really well for lice and or mites?

 

[MysteryChicken]

Bald head looks like some rooster damage.

The white looks like dry skin too me.

 

[The-White-Elephant]

Bald head looks like some rooster damage.

The white looks like dry skin too me.

X2

 

[red1leah]

X2

We have no rooster. And that hen was just found dead. I now have 2 more that look like she did with the bald head and one with a limp comb. SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP

 

[The-White-Elephant]

We have no rooster. And that hen was just found dead. I now have 2 more that look like she did with the bald head and one with a limp comb. SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP

Look at the flock. There is probably an aggressive hen. I’ve had chickens kill a hen before. Sorry for your loss

 

[red1leah]

Look at the flock. There is probably an aggressive hen. I’ve had chickens kill a hen before. Sorry for your loss

Wouldn’t I see damage to the body? I checked over the deceased hen and found no injuries? I’ve been googling and researching like mad today to figure this out

Do you have a rooster?
What size is your coop and what exactly do you feed?
Have you checked the birds really well for lice and or mites?

no rooster. 10x10 coop with enclosed hen house. We feed Egglands Best layer mini pellet which has 17% protein, Texas Selects scratch grains, meal worms, soldier worms, fresh veggies almost daily, fresh cut herbs from my garden at least once a week… I’ve checked and see no mites or evidence of lice or mites….

 

[Kiki]

Wouldn’t I see damage to the body? I checked over the deceased hen and found no injuries? I’ve been googling and researching like mad today to figure this out

no rooster. 10x10 coop with enclosed hen house. We feed Egglands Best layer mini pellet which has 17% protein, Texas Selects scratch grains, meal worms, soldier worms, fresh veggies almost daily, fresh cut herbs from my garden at least once a week… I’ve checked and see no mites or evidence of lice or mites….

That is A LOT of treats.
Are you aware that treats shouldn't be fed daily and should never amount to more than one tablespoon amount per bird per day?

Most people don't realize they're overfeeding treats until they start having birds drop dead.

Fatty liver disease will kill without even warning and it is usually caused by overfeeding treats.

Scratch and mealworms are both high and fat. I would stop feeding all of these treats immediately and only feed the layer type feed to the birds if I were you.

When feeding so many treats the bird is not getting a balanced diet.
Not getting a balanced diet can cause all kinds of issues.

 

[red1leah]

That is A LOT of treats.
Are you aware that treats shouldn't be fed daily and should never amount to more than one tablespoon amount per bird per day?

Most people don't realize they're overfeeding treats until they start having birds drop dead.

Fatty liver disease will kill without even warning and it is usually caused by overfeeding treats.

Scratch and mealworms are both high and fat. I would stop feeding all of these treats immediately and only feed the layer type feed to the birds if I were you.

When feeding so many treats the bird is not getting a balanced diet.
Not getting a balanced diet can cause all kinds of issues.

I do not feed all these things daily nor in a large amount. Only thing they get on a consistent daily basis is their layer feed. I hand feed very little scratch and worms on a daily basis. Literally- like a couple handfuls for the entire flock (of that). They do get lots of fresh greens, as well as other fruits and vegetables in addition to their layer feed.