Silkies - Bald on their backs

[mzfancichicks]

Not sure if this is the right place to ask this or not. Sorry if it isn't. Just in case you haven't seen my other post - I did have (hopefully gone now) a case of mites. But they have looked kinda bald since I bought them. The lady I bought them from said they will look a lot like dinosaurs before they get their adult feathers (fluff). I'm just kinda worried about them. Their skin looks really dry also. I tried to do a search for this but couldn't find anything.

Am I just being a worry wort or is this normal?

Thank you'

April

 

[lurky]

Bugs are something to look for, but that is also a sign of being over-bred.
If the person had too many roosters, or if she was a favorite to the rooster, that can happen.

 

[mzfancichicks]

They are 5 week olds. they did have mites, but hopefully I got rid of those.
I was just told they would look like dinosaurs for a while and wanted to make sure that was normal.

Thank you

 

[reesepoultry]

Hello,
If they are only 5 weeks old they are not breeding. I own a bunch of silkies and have for years now. I have never had a bald one. I am gonna have to say they had a bad mite problem. they never look like dinasours they come out fully feathered out of the egg. I got some from a guy before that were locked in cages and had mites and I put them in pine shavings and they got rid of them thereselves. I would have to say that your problem is probably from the mites. I would just give them some pine shavings to dust themselves in. Hope this helps

 

[mzfancichicks]

Thank you - I thought this may have been the problem but I wanted to make sure. Hopefully now they will start feathering out.

 

[reesepoultry]

They should I would just keep pine shavings available for them so that they may keep dusting themshelves they should be able to clean all the mites away on there own that way.

 

[mzfancichicks]

Actually, I have completely white washed the coop and dusted them and made them permanent pens. I've done a lot this weekend. No more bugs.

The lady I bought them from ( two weeks ago) though said they would look like dinosaurs for a while though. I'm very new at this and thought that was just how they would look for awhile.

I wish I would have known more then. My 3 month old silkies look great. They still don't have any thing wrong.

I use pine shavings for the pens about 2 - 3 inches deep and add some each day. Then clean out weekly. I've done this since I got the 5 week olds.

 

[reesepoultry]

That's great I do the same for all my chickens. they have to have a way to dust themselves and it also works great to keep the barn smelling good and cleaner eggs. I found that if you keep your poultry in clean pens and give them fresh clean water daily and grass them they lay better for you.

 

[lurky]

Oh i didn't realize they were only 5 weeks. Overcrowded birds can do that type of damage too. I bet they will look great in a few weeks being cared for so well

 

[mzfancichicks]

Will their skin start to look better also. Or is it normally dry looking? The older silkies don't seem to look like their skin is dry looking. Kind of hard to tell with all the "fluff" though. Should I put something on their skin?