Scaly patches on wattles

[MeatyCluckers]

Good Morning! This might be nothing, but I am still troubleshooting a hen who has had alternating vague health issues and consequently bullying victim issues. Previously, I thought that these crusts were because of bullying/getting picked on - but it's been two months and it doesn't look improved at all, so I thought I'd ask if this was a sign of something else:

We had an unseasonable cold/wet spell and Noreaster and she really seemed to be struggling with the weather after an extended period of being normal and happy (other than not laying) and coexisting great with other hens, and then was beaten up, so she is in quarantine while she heals (again). She was definitely in shock, and it took a couple of days for her to do anything other than basically just lay down, but now she's pecking/foraging/roosting, etc. again, and seems eager to be back to full capacity chickening. Her color looks good. I'm just still trying to figure out why she seems to have this cyclical pattern of not feeling well and wondering if these crusts could be in any way related (grasping at straws here I guess). All other hens are fine. She's a three year old Wyandotte.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Some photos of all of her would be nice.

She been eating raw egg? There's a bit of yellow on the crust.

Possible if you've had very cold weather, at some point she suffered minor frostbite at some point and the scaling is just dead tissue sloughing off.

Hens that have reproductive problems can often have cyclical patterns of doing well, then not so well.

See that she's eating a nutritionally balanced poultry feed, oyster shell and grit free choice.
Check periodically for lice/mites, that her crop is emptying. If possible, get a fecal float to see if she or your flock need deworming.



https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/3-year-old-hen-stopped-laying-suddenly.1661632/

 

[MeatyCluckers]

Some photos of all of her would be nice.

She been eating raw egg? There's a bit of yellow on the crust.

Possible if you've had very cold weather, at some point she suffered minor frostbite at some point and the scaling is just dead tissue sloughing off.

Hens that have reproductive problems can often have cyclical patterns of doing well, then not so well.

See that she's eating a nutritionally balanced poultry feed, oyster shell and grit free choice.
Check periodically for lice/mites, that her crop is emptying. If possible, get a fecal float to see if she or your flock need deworming.



https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/3-year-old-hen-stopped-laying-suddenly.1661632/

I did actually offer her some raw egg while she was first recovering and wouldn't eat her normal food. They get layer crumbles, free choice oyster shell/grit, supplemental mealworms as treats. No lice or mites that I can see (and I did a careful vent inspection because she did have a poopy butt that has since been cleaned and remained okay). Her crop seemed hard the other evening, but today feels normal.

The first photo was this morning, sunbathing in her temporary daytime digs. She's been happy outside, digging and sunbathing and preening and roosting. Second photo was the same day that she was attacked, the third one was a couple of days ago. I was concerned one of her eyes had been pecked out because it wouldn't open, but after a few days of Terramycin, it opened this morning and looks clear and uninjured.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Her crop seemed hard the other evening, but today feels normal.

Awww poor girl!
I'm sorry she was attacked. It sounds like you're doing a good job taking care of her wounds. Terramycin is very good for the eyes, I'm glad you had that and was able to treat the eyes.

A crop should feel firm and full at night before roosting since a hen will fill up before going to sleep for the night. If the crop is emptying overnight and feels flat first thing in the morning before eating/drinking, she should be fine on that part.

For the crusty wattles. I'd try giving them a little cleanup, see if the crust wipes off. If it doesn't, you can apply just a bit of ointment or oil to the wattles to see if that resolves the problem over the course of a week or two.

You may find she does better being separated out from the flock on a full times basis.