Red Star with Red and Raw Skin, Crispy Feathers

[PredatorMilk]

Hey! Long-time lurker, first-time poster. I have learned a lot on these forums and I thank all of you active contributors for being so giving. My turn to ask of you.

Our Red Star (Ren) has slowly been looking shabbier and shabbier. She is hot to the touch, her feathers are sort of... falling apart, and she is starting to show red / dry / raw spots of skin. We thought she may be molting... but this condition has been slow to set in... and we worry the other chickens are starting to show signs.

All of my initial searches pointed to mites or some other type of bug but she is exposed to DE and ash fairly regularly, and lives in a very clean coop... plus visual inspection does not show any egg sacks, skin crawlies, infected scales...

Not really sure what to do at this point! She has always had an incredible amount of energy... and has lost none of it.

Do you know what's got into Ren?! Many thanks.

 

[Cayuga momma]

If she isnt going broody then the only things I could think of are either they aren't getting enough protein or they have mold poisoning.
Do you ever see them pick at their feathers or eat them?

 

[PredatorMilk]

Thanks Cayuga momma!

• Not broody at all (unlike others.....)
• They have all the dried worms and black oil seeds they can eat, so protein should be good right?
• We live in a very dry environment... mold is hard to get here.
• They scratch and fluff like any other chickens, nothing weird

 

[Cayuga momma]

There are 2 types of Fungal poisoning "molds" that grow in hot and dry conditions. Aflatoxicosis and Ochratoxicosis.
Aflatoxicosis can be found in all grains, seeds, and nuts. This one is more common.
What type of feed do they get?

 

[PredatorMilk]

Hmm... Good to know.

1. Ag Land of the Rockies Poultry Feed
2. Grubs and Sunflower seeds are shown in the picture.
3. Many, many, kitchen scraps.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Does she lay down a lot? What does your roosting bar look like? How are your nesting boxes made?

I see broken feathers that have been rubbed off her belly, she may be developing breast blister. The feathers on the side of her head are very wispy do you see her scratching often or notice other chickens picking at her. Scales on the legs are raised as well, to me she may have the beginnings of Scaly leg mites.

If she were mine, I would treat her with a Permethrin based poultry spray or dust, soak the legs in epsom salts and apply an oil or cream to the feet and legs to smother the mites. Check your roosting bars to see if she is sleeping anywhere rough.

There is also a possibility that the redness/white exposed keel bone is due to infection. You need to watch that area closely to make sure it doesn't get any worse she may develop breast blister which would is usually a staph infection.

I would also give her poultry vitamins once a week.

 

[Cayuga momma]

You'll want to listen to Wyorp Rock first, she is way more knowledgable than me!

 

[ChickNanny13]

2x

 

[Wyorp Rock]

You'll want to listen to Wyorp Rock first, she is way more knowledgable than me!

I would not discounted fungal/mold as you mentioned. Feed can cause some problems too!

 

[PredatorMilk]

Does she lay down a lot? What does your roosting bar look like? How are your nesting boxes made?

I see broken feathers that have been rubbed off her belly, she may be developing breast blister. The feathers on the side of her head are very wispy do you see her scratching often or notice other chickens picking at her. Scales on the legs are raised as well, to me she may have the beginnings of Scaly leg mites.

If she were mine, I would treat her with a Permethrin based poultry spray or dust, soak the legs in epsom salts and apply an oil or cream to the feet and legs to smother the mites. Check your roosting bars to see if she is sleeping anywhere rough.

There is also a possibility that the redness/white exposed keel bone is due to infection. You need to watch that area closely to make sure it doesn't get any worse she may develop breast blister which would is usually a staph infection.

I would also give her poultry vitamins once a week.

Thanks Wyorp Rock!

Sleeping: Ren is very energetic and runs around everywhere (including very persistent efforts to get into the house) all day. At night she often elects to sleep in a nesting box (something I interrupt when I can by placing her back on a roosting bar). The chickens get up far earlier than I do so I don't know if she stays there. All the roosting bars are clean and smooth wood, square-shaped, around 1" in width. No rough spots.

Laying Boxes: Essentially 3x small plywood boxes for nine chickens, full of cedar shavings. A 2x4 must be stepped over to get inside. Kept very clean.

Neck: Ren is the alpha and good at it so nobody else picks on her. I haven't noticed her scratching at herself any more than normal. Her feathers are indeed whispy and you can see in the pictures she has a large red spot on her neck where there are no more feathers.

Thanks for the advice! We will be doing everything you recommended. A few questions:

• Is Permethrin better or different from DE? Because we use DE now.
• What do you recommend for treatment of her neck and chest? We would sanitize with soapy water or an iodine solution and apply Vicks or Neosporin ointment. Is there something better?
• Any advice for pursuing possible fungal infections.

Sorry to ask more of you... and thank you SOO much for all the fantastic advice thus far. Lucky to have you and Backyard Chickens as a resource.