Skin Problem

[chanceymillardo]

I have two Golden Comets and I did a check up on one of them and I found this:

What is the problem here and how can I treat it?

 

[MrsBrooke]

It looks like she's either molting or has gone broody.

Have you noticed her sitting on clutches of eggs or hanging out in the nest box?

MrsB

 

[chanceymillardo]

She does not sit on clutches of eggs and she does not hang out in the nest box. So it's molting?

 

[MrsBrooke]

It could be... Is there something clumping against the feather shaft at the base, or is that just dirt?

MrsB

 

[chanceymillardo]

It's not dirt and it's not anything clumping against the feather shaft at the base.

 

[chanceymillardo]

Also, from time to time I hear her making a weird breathing sound out of her nostrils. Is that normal? It's just a quick puff of air that I can hear her breathing.

 

[MrsBrooke]

It looks like she's either pulling her feathers out, she's molting, her feathers are burned off from being around ammonia, or she could have lice/mites.

As for the breathing, if you hear wheezing, gurgling, sneezing, or see bubbly eyes or dripping nostrils, she could have a respiratory disease.

Is she still eating and drinking normally?

MrsB

 

[chanceymillardo]

Yes, she is still eating and drinking normally.

 

[MrsBrooke]

Have you checked her for lice or mites?

Have you observed any of the respiratory symptoms I mentioned?

Any other information you can provide is helpful.

MrsB

 

[chanceymillardo]

I do not believe she has a mite or lice problem because I sprinkle diatomaceous earth in their dust baths and I put some bleach in their water every now and then. Also, she does not have a respiratory issue because I checked for what you told me to check for. I don't think she is pulling her feathers out because I never see her doing that.