molting or...?

[NewFlockOnTheBlock]

A number of our chickens are currently molting, including the two Buff Orpington hens in the photos below. They are 3 years old but we've only had them for a couple of months so we don't know whether they usually go through a soft or hard molt and what they look like in the process; it seems to be different for every chicken. We do know that none of our other hens who are currently molting have had such large bald spots on their butt (first pic) or on their throat (second pic). Do you think there is something else going on here in addition to simply molting?

Behavior is pretty normal, they are eating, pooping, foraging in the grass, leaving the coop in the morning and roosting at night, etc. Similarly to our other molting chickens, they do spend more time either alone or with their molting friends, hiding in the bushes and carpeting the area around them with feathers.

We are going to treat everyone with ivermectin in case it is mites or lice. I saw a suspicious-looking poop today that makes me think someone has worms. Ivermectin should help with both intestinal parasites and mites/lice. We've also had success treating for mites with permethrins, so if you all think this is mites, we can do another round of that.

Apologies for the blurry pictures; I took them at dusk with a cheap camera

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

The neck is from molting the butt may be from picking. What are you currently feeding? What's the protein content?

 

[NewFlockOnTheBlock]

We feed fermented Scratch & Peck Layer with Corn (a local brand here in Washington). It contains 16% protein. We also supplement with high protein treats like quinoa cooked in milk, ground beef, and meal worms.

When you say the butt may be from picking, do you mean that the feathers are getting picked by other hens or that she may be doing this to herself? I haven't seen her getting picked on too much, and when it happens, the other hen usually gets her on the back/neck/head, not on the butt.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

When birds have feathers missing from around the vent it's either external parasites or other picking generally, although it could also be from the molt. I would keep an eye on it, and see how it goes. If you start to see wounds or the feathers never grow back in that I would think pecking. Hopefully in a short while her bottom gets new feathers.

 

[NewFlockOnTheBlock]

Thanks! Will definitely keep an eye on it. Also started everyone on ivermectin as of this afternoon. Is it normal for the skin to be this red?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

For the most part the color is fine. Exposed chicken skin almost always turns bright red, especially on active birds.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Might be a good idea to them growers feed higher protein add yogurt, oatmeal, meal worms all may help unless you have seen worms do not add ivermectin if you have not seen worms please

 

[NewFlockOnTheBlock]

We do feed oatmeal regularly as a treat; I didn't mention it above as I was only listing the higher-protein treats that we feed. (We also feed all sorts of fruit and veggie scraps, for example.)

I saw a suspicious-looking poop the other day that looked like it may have been wormy. My understanding is that ivermectin is a pretty mild drug, and effective for both internal and external parasites. This is our first time using it on chickens but we've used it successfully with pet mice in the past.

Our friends who have had chickens for over 10 years and have done lots of research about best practices use ivermectin twice a year, spring and fall. They have a fairly large flock (25 birds) and they don't necessarily look for signs of worms or mites, the assumption being that if the chickens are out on pasture that is also used by wild birds, then they are bound to pick up some parasites. So, we feel pretty safe using ivermectin in this way.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

We do feed oatmeal regularly as a treat; I didn't mention it above as I was only listing the higher-protein treats that we feed. (We also feed all sorts of fruit and veggie scraps, for example.)

I saw a suspicious-looking poop the other day that looked like it may have been wormy. My understanding is that ivermectin is a pretty mild drug, and effective for both internal and external parasites. This is our first time using it on chickens but we've used it successfully with pet mice in the past.

Our friends who have had chickens for over 10 years and have done lots of research about best practices use ivermectin twice a year, spring and fall. They have a fairly large flock (25 birds) and they don't necessarily look for signs of worms or mites, the assumption being that if the chickens are out on pasture that is also used by wild birds, then they are bound to pick up some parasites. So, we feel pretty safe using ivermectin in this way.

Can you get a fecal float to confirm worms?

While Ivermectin may be effective for a few types of worms, knowing that you do have worms and the type you are dealing with is always best so you know which (if any) medication is needed. Not all wormers take care of all worms.

 

[NewFlockOnTheBlock]

H-m-m, I'm not sure if I can get a test done. None of our local vets will treat chickens. So far it was only one poop that looked potentially wormy but who knows how many others there are out there in the pasture. There have been a few others that looked suspicious, but not in the same way that this one did. I wish I'd taken a picture.

My reasoning was, better treat now in case we have worms or external parasites (based on that one hen's bald vent area) than wait for 100% confirmation, which may not come until it's too late, or may only happen after the weather gets cold. I'd prefer not to treat in the middle of winter to avoid stressing our birds out even further.