Silkie molting?? Or results from lice

[riane'smimi]

I got some silkies about a month ago and all of them were covered in lice.At the time the hen was losing her feathers.I have treated all the infected birds and they all have picked up except the hen.She still isn't laying and her cage is full of feathers.Every day there seems to be more.I am surprised she still looks as pretty as she does.I have added showbird feed to her diet at a teaspoon a day.Not sure how old she is but she is full grown.Should I be worried or could this be molt? I am new to chickens and that's why I have to ask such a silly question.the hen has picked up on her feed also as did the other birds.
Thanks
Karen

 

[dawg53]

riane'smimi :

I got some silkies about a month ago and all of them were covered in lice.At the time the hen was losing her feathers.I have treated all the infected birds and they all have picked up except the hen.She still isn't laying and her cage is full of feathers.Every day there seems to be more.I am surprised she still looks as pretty as she does.I have added showbird feed to her diet at a teaspoon a day.Not sure how old she is but she is full grown.Should I be worried or could this be molt? I am new to chickens and that's why I have to ask such a silly question.the hen has picked up on her feed also as did the other birds.
Thanks
Karen

Not a silly question and glad you asked. Since you treated all your birds for lice... did you also treat their house, nests and roosts? AND did you retreat them in 10 days to kill the nits that have hatched since the first treatment as well as their house, nests and roosts? If you did retreat them, it's possible your hen in might be molting. Pick her up and visually inspect her and if you dont see lice crawling on her, then it's most likely molt.​

 

[jenlynn4]

my silkies are moulting now...yours may be too!

 

[purpletree23]

No silly questions here.......we all started someplace. Ask anything you want.

To tell if she is molting check the areas where the feathers are missing. If you see feathers coming in than she is molting. If not she will need to be dusted for mites and lice. Either way she is going to be grumpy and will not lay eggs. Give her good food and vitamins in her water if you like and she should be fine. If she is molting she won't lay for 4-6 months. It's normal.

 

[riane'smimi]

Thanks! I didn't know I had to retreat after ten days so will do it now.I am also going out to check for new feathers growing.Four to six months! Wow that's a long time,but I guess they need rest just like the rest of us.
I was really disappointed to find them all covered in lice as the lady I got them from has rasied chicken for awhile and she knew I was new to it but to tell the truth it was just as much my fault.I should of inspected the birds first and I don't think she did it knowing they had lice.It is a lesson learned though.LOOK before you buy, it could of been alot worse.I am just thankful I didn't put them in with my other birds.They are really nice Silkies
Thanks for helping me

karen

 

[dawg53]

riane'smimi :

Thanks! I didn't know I had to retreat after ten days so will do it now.I am also going out to check for new feathers growing.Four to six months! Wow that's a long time,but I guess they need rest just like the rest of us.
I was really disappointed to find them all covered in lice as the lady I got them from has rasied chicken for awhile and she knew I was new to it but to tell the truth it was just as much my fault.I should of inspected the birds first and I don't think she did it knowing they had lice.It is a lesson learned though.LOOK before you buy, it could of been alot worse.I am just thankful I didn't put them in with my other birds.They are really nice Silkies
Thanks for helping me

karen

I'm glad you didnt put them with your other birds as well....now you know what biosecurity is all about. Alot of people quarantine for about 30 days, there are no set rules regarding how much time to quarantine. Some even quarantine longer because you never know when something viral, bacterial or fungal will show their ugly heads and can and will decimate entire flocks. The allotted time gives you the chance to identify problems and treat/retreat accordingly. I've read alot of horror stories here about things like this and I'm all for quarantining and practice biosecurity myself. Good job!!

 

[purpletree23]

Yup......lesson learned. We've all been there.

If they are molting give them extra protein. Some give a handful of dry cat food every few days or meat scraps. Feathers are made of protein so while the new feathers are forming there isn't enough energy/protein to produce eggs. FYI if the chicken is molting the comb and wattles will turn from bright red to a pinkish color. When getting ready to lay again it will go back to red.

Spring is here and if you let them free range at all or have a chicken tractor so they can get healthy green and bugs they might come back into lay earlier. I had 2 hens who started to molt in October. They seemed miserable all winter long poor things. Trying to stay warm (we have a heater) and grow new feathers must have been a bummer. They just started to lay about a month ago.

 

[riane'smimi]

I used to think biosecurity was for owners of huge commercial flocks,I have come to understand that all people that have chickens needs to practice it at all times.You spend too much money and time to be careless even once.I really wanted to go to swaps this year now I am scared to.
I will add protein to her diet.She hasn't been getting any meat scraps so I need to start tomorrow and add it to her diet.Thanks for helping me.I just started with chickens this past fall and I am still learning alot about them.I am really proud of the ones I have raised ,they are very healthy ,happy birds.I have learned alot from this site over the past few months and books.As for adding new stock,I think I will hatch them out for awhile until I learn more.I would really be sick if I was to bring anything else home to them.
I have 3 mf cochins that are my pride and joy

along with my egg layers and silkies
Thanks again
Karen