Please help.....New hen owner!!

[PiperPilot]

Hello everyone!

I am a new backyard "mom" to two Golden Comets that my husband and I rescued yesterday. Their combs and wattles have white patches on them...looks like they have been "dusted with flour", they have also lost most of their neck and breast feathers. They are suppose to be 13 months old and came from a very OVER CROWDED flock other golden comets. Their diet and living conditions were deplorable..no water for them when we arrived to get them.
I have them on a good quality layer pellet, fresh/clean water, clean coop and run daily! I have ordered some mite/lice spray as I believe this might be an issue too.

Any advise is greatly welcomed

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hello everyone!

I am a new backyard "mom" to two Golden Comets that my husband and I rescued yesterday. Their combs and wattles have white patches on them...looks like they have been "dusted with flour", they have also lost most of their neck and breast feathers. They are suppose to be 13 months old and came from a very OVER CROWDED flock other golden comets. Their diet and living conditions were deplorable..no water for them when we arrived to get them.
I have them on a good quality layer pellet, fresh/clean water, clean coop and run daily! I have ordered some mite/lice spray as I believe this might be an issue too.

Any advise is greatly welcomed

Hi @PiperPilot Welcome To BYC!

Can you post some photos of your hens?
Do you have any other chickens at this time or are these your first?

 

[PiperPilot]

Hi @PiperPilot Welcome To BYC!

Can you post some photos of your hens?
Do you have any other chickens at this time or are these your first?

Hello and thank you for responding

Yes, I can post pictures tomorrow afternoon and yes, these are our first girls.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hello and thank you for responding

Yes, I can post pictures tomorrow afternoon and yes, these are our first girls.

That would be great!

You mention white patches on the combs and wattles, one thing that comes to mind would be Favus which is a fungal infection, treatment would be with an anti-fungal cream (athlete's foot cream). Photo below is fairly advanced.
Feather loss could be due to poor nutrition, the living conditions they were in, mites/lice and/or molting.
It might be overwhelming for you at first, but just be patient. Keep us posted and we will try to help you through it all.

Photo credit

 

[BarredRockMom]

Awww, how kind of you to take them in! It sounds like they have a better chance of getting a good quality of life now. Everyone will be waiting for pictures & to hear about their progress.

 

[slordaz]

That's amazing thing you did for these girls , you sure have come to the best place around , there are lots of people with varying degrees of knowledge about just anything to do with out feathered friends. Welcome to BYC, if we don't know the answer most of us know who to tag for assistance.

 

[fldiver97]

Hello again The feather issues can be a variety or combination of causes.... feather picking due to overcrowding, poor nutrition, early molting, lice/ mites. Most are easily fixed with some TLC and time. If the ‘white stuff’ on comb and wattles is fungal, over-the-counter Lotrimin will help. I assume you are planning to treat with permethrin spray for lice/mites? Just remember that you have to treat again after (I think) 10 days. Having more space, a clean and healthy environment and good nutrition will help the girls tremendously

 

[Sequel]

Welcome to BYC! I wish you the best with your new hens!

 

[BullChick]

Thank you for saving them. It’s difficult for anyone, especially a newbie!

 

[ValerieJ]

Hi! Welcome to BYC! Thanks for saving these chickens. I'm so happy they will have a happier life from here on out.​