Need help with my silkies scalp, is it irritation or mites?

[Maziemay]

I have a year old satin Silkie. She is broody and laying on eggs. My lavender EE roo tried to mate her and pulled out most of her head feathers. We moved and isolated her. Now I notice something on her scalp where the feathers are coming back. I can’t tell if it is just the shoots of feathers growing back or dandruff, mites, or maybe infection. The white flecks and black dots don’t move, and I can’t see any actual bugs. Her vent looks ok, and her poop is normal no worms. She eating and drinking normal as well. She won’t let me touch her she just shakes her head, but I have been able to put Banixx spray for skin irritation. Can anyone tell what it is? what should I do? Should I use ivermectin if mites?

 

[NatJ]

Now I notice something on her scalp where the feathers are coming back. I can’t tell if it is just the shoots of feathers growing back or dandruff, mites, or maybe infection.

I see little black things like sticks or toothpicks. Those are feathers growing in.
I see little gray or white things on the end of those black toothpicks. Those gray or white things are normal for feathers that are growing.

For the skin itself, that the feathers are growing from, I do not see anything that concerns me, but I know it's easy to miss things in photos. You could pick up a different chicken, gently spread the feathers, and look at what "normal" chicken skin looks like. That can help you recognize whether her skin is normal.

As long as she seems otherwise healthy and happy, I would probably wait and see what happens.

 

[Maziemay]

I see little black things like sticks or toothpicks. Those are feathers growing in.
I see little gray or white things on the end of those black toothpicks. Those gray or white things are normal for feathers that are growing.

For the skin itself, that the feathers are growing from, I do not see anything that concerns me, but I know it's easy to miss things in photos. You could pick up a different chicken, gently spread the feathers, and look at what "normal" chicken skin looks like. That can help you recognize whether her skin is normal.

As long as she seems otherwise healthy and happy, I would probably wait and see what happens.

Thank you, I have been so worried. I did what you suggested and the skin looks the same or rather normal. It was a good idea. I don’t feel so worried about it, but I’ll keep an eye on it. She seems heathy and happy sitting on her eggs. Just 10 days left. One reason I was worried was if it was mites, I wanted to try to clear it up before the chicks come. I’m so glad it isn’t yahoo. I don’t really know what mites or lice look like other than they move. So it is great to hear it is her feathers growing back. Thank you so much

 

[coach723]

Normally they pick those bits of feather sheath off of emerging feathers while they are preening. Since those are on top of her head, she can't get to them, so they take longer to fall off on their own. Looks perfectly normal. For future reference, this link has pictures of lice and mites to help with identification if ever needed:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification/

 

[Maziemay]

Normally they pick those bits of feather sheath off of emerging feathers while they are preening. Since those are on top of her head, she can't get to them, so they take longer to fall off on their own. Looks perfectly normal. For future reference, this link has pictures of lice and mites to help with identification if ever needed:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification/

Thank you, for your reply. I checked out the link you sent, it is very informative. Thank goodness my girl doesn’t have it. The sheath and dots/pin feathers is what confused me cause i haven’t seen it before, I couldn’t tell what it was. I’m so glad she will be ok. Yahoo. This morning when I was checking her out like normal, she has more feathers coming. The pin black tips are poking through the left side of her scalp. Now I know what they are it makes me happy. Thank you yahoo..