Hi, We have 2 chickens and the other day I noticed one of them had a few feathers missing and it looked quite sore, the sore/grazed bit seems to have cleared up but the feathers are getting less and less, it's only one of them though, could it be mites if its only one of them? She seems quite happy but obviously she must be irritated or in pain?! Help please?? Thank you Stephanie
Hi Stephanie , welcome to BYC.. It could be mites or she could be molting. Check her over , paying particular attention to the vent area ( bottom ) and under her wings. If it is lice you should treat her with poultry dust, change her bedding and sprinkle some of the dust in the nest boxes. We put our wood ash in their dust bath areas as a preventative measure. Lice and parasites can really knock chickens around, especially the blood sucking kind. So it's best to catch it early .
