Pests or rooster?

[Chickie_Momma_91]

This may be stupid but my Roos favorite hen has this on her feathers. She’s the only one of my flock. Her feathers are crispy? feeling and discolored. I’ve not tried cleaning it off. Is this pests? Bad aim? It’s only right above and beside her tail. None of her feathers look chewed or shortened or anything.

 

[aart]

Impossible to tell really.
He may have missed the target.
Or she rubbed up against something wet.


Doubt it's bugs, but.....
Have you checked them over real well for mites and/or lice?

Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.


Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).

Good post about mite ID by Lady McCamley:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-chicken-has-mites-now-what.1273674/page-2#post-20483008

 

[Chickie_Momma_91]

Impossible to tell really.
He may have missed the target.
Or she rubbed up against something wet.


Doubt it's bugs, but.....
Have you checked them over real well for mites and/or lice?

Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.


Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).

Good post about mite ID by Lady McCamley:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-chicken-has-mites-now-what.1273674/page-2#post-20483008

I have done all but read that post lol. I have trauma related to head lice in people and my paranoia regarding lice has bled into my chickens they pretty much are so used to a thorough check over they don’t even argue anymore.

 

[aart]

they pretty much are so used to a thorough check over they don’t even argue anymore.

So then you should know if they have bugs or not, eh?

 

[Chickie_Momma_91]

So then you should know if they have bugs or not, eh?

You would think but I’m paranoid