Ring worm?

[brierose3]

We rescued two hens and a rooster from our local animal shelter today and they said they noticed this morning that one of the hens has missing feathers on her neck. They said that it could be ring worm or just molt or the other hens picking on her. They said they were going to euthanase her this morning but when we called, they decided to leave it up to us. We took them home and when I picked her up I noticed she was very skinny with her breastbone sticking out and she seems stiff when I pick her up unlike the other hen.

So anyway, does ringworm cause feather loss and how can you treat it?

 

[Fancychooklady]

Hi brierose, I've never seen ring worm on a chicken, but it is just fungal, so I would imagine you could use an anti fungal cream. When our horses have been afflicted by this or Queensland itch I treat it with blue copper sulphate diluted with water in a spray bottle.

 

[Fancychooklady]

P.S , that being said, it could just be a molt . We have snow all round yet I still have 2 broody hens in a full molt.

 

[brierose3]

Thank you. Do chickens lay eggs when they are in molt because I watched them make a nest this morning in the hay and the one with possible molt was laying down in the corner of the nest box while the other hen was brining pieces of hay and stuff. An hour later all you hear outside it them clucking. I didn't think much of it because when we got them the staff said they were out of lay. Sure enough there were two eggs in the box and very happy chickens. Do they lay one egg each or two?

 

[Fancychooklady]

Lucky you! Your hens must be feeling quite " at home " . One egg each. That's the norm. Good on you for rescuing them. I'm originally from NSW. Moved to Tassie 14 years ago.

 

[brierose3]

On The same hen (now named Loren) I noticed this morning a red swollen lump as big as my fist underneath her tail and also one on her chest. What could this be? She also has red rashes on some parts of her skin. We have treated all our chickens for worms, mites and lice.