- Jul 22, 2013
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Hi all, I hope you can help me!
Polly, my 1 year old New Hampshire has recently had mites. She went broody and while she was sitting on eggs, I was working 14 hour days for a little bit and didn't get to clean out the laying box for about 2 and a half weeks (I usually do it once or twice a week). By the time I cleaned out her nesting area, there was a fair few in and around the eggs she was sitting on.
I went to the local produce and they gave me a powder to coat the cooks with, as well as the bedding, etc. When I caught Polly (we got her at POL and she's not a fan of being picked up!) I saw that her belly feathers were all gone, but otherwise she looked in good health. I treated all my chickens, and no others appeared to have mites, but Punky my Araucana had one swollen eye. I suspected perhaps it was an irritation from mites that I just couldn't see, or else the other chooks had been picking on her and it was an injury.
That was about 8 days ago. Now, I have just noticed that Polly's face looked a bit funny. I was able to pick her up fairly easily which never happens, so she must be a little lethargic. On close inspection I saw that much of her face has gone black and one eye is swollen nearly closed! Her underbelly, where it was smooth and featherless last week is now very angry-looking with sore red scabs. She has been losing HEAPS of feathers, they are all over my back deck. I treated her with the mite powder/ dust stuff just in case there were still some on her.
After seeing this, I thought I'd better check my other chickens, and quite a few of them seem to have small black spots on their faces. I need to check Punky as this may have started with her, but she is very illusive and I can only get a hold of her at dusk when she goes to bed and I haven't been around at that time to nab her.
All the chickens are still very lively, and all combs are still red. Polly has slowed down a little but is still eating ok. I fed her separately yesterday so I could make sure. She has also become very submissive to the other chickens where she used to be quite aggressive. When my Rhode Island Red looks at her, she backs up with her tail down.
Can someone please tell me what is wrong and how to treat it?
Polly, my 1 year old New Hampshire has recently had mites. She went broody and while she was sitting on eggs, I was working 14 hour days for a little bit and didn't get to clean out the laying box for about 2 and a half weeks (I usually do it once or twice a week). By the time I cleaned out her nesting area, there was a fair few in and around the eggs she was sitting on.
I went to the local produce and they gave me a powder to coat the cooks with, as well as the bedding, etc. When I caught Polly (we got her at POL and she's not a fan of being picked up!) I saw that her belly feathers were all gone, but otherwise she looked in good health. I treated all my chickens, and no others appeared to have mites, but Punky my Araucana had one swollen eye. I suspected perhaps it was an irritation from mites that I just couldn't see, or else the other chooks had been picking on her and it was an injury.
That was about 8 days ago. Now, I have just noticed that Polly's face looked a bit funny. I was able to pick her up fairly easily which never happens, so she must be a little lethargic. On close inspection I saw that much of her face has gone black and one eye is swollen nearly closed! Her underbelly, where it was smooth and featherless last week is now very angry-looking with sore red scabs. She has been losing HEAPS of feathers, they are all over my back deck. I treated her with the mite powder/ dust stuff just in case there were still some on her.
After seeing this, I thought I'd better check my other chickens, and quite a few of them seem to have small black spots on their faces. I need to check Punky as this may have started with her, but she is very illusive and I can only get a hold of her at dusk when she goes to bed and I haven't been around at that time to nab her.
All the chickens are still very lively, and all combs are still red. Polly has slowed down a little but is still eating ok. I fed her separately yesterday so I could make sure. She has also become very submissive to the other chickens where she used to be quite aggressive. When my Rhode Island Red looks at her, she backs up with her tail down.
Can someone please tell me what is wrong and how to treat it?
