Stumped on Feather Loss/Damage. I've Tried Everything I Can Think Of. Help Needed.

[FunClucks]

I don't have access to a chicken vet either so I totally understand. Sometimes we just have to do the best we can.

Eggcessive mentioned a product called Nustock it has Sulphur, pine oil and some mineral oil in it. I've not used it myself but have seen it recommended here for different problems. You may find it locally where animal supplies are sold but it is available online. It is usually marketed for horses and is not very expensive. Sulphur is antibacterial and antifungal. So it would cover both. I believe it would also smother some mites and would be soothing to the skin. Here is one place online that sells it.

https://www.jefferspet.com/nustock?_q=nustock&map=ft

Also I wanted to say Welcome to BYC! There are really some good people here that try to help each other. Many are very knowledgeable about chickens and Eggcessive is among the best!
Always feel free to ask questions that's how we all learn.

NuStock is one of my new favorite things. I recently used it to clear up some scaly leg mites, and it took care of it nicely. If you use it, wear disposable latex gloves before and during use, don't store the NuStock Ointment in a hot area (you don't want it to melt), and wear old clothes prior to application. You can spread it on the roosts as well to kill any mites on the roosts, it sticks around pretty well.

You're starting with a "clean" chicken (I had to wash the feet with soap and water to remove poo and then dry them), so I think you could just apply to the red featherless area, and into the surrounding skin past the affected area. Then reapply about 10 days later. You can keep applying after that as often as needed. The back of the tube has a lot to say about clearing up skin infections - its pretty great stuff. One tube did the feet of 17 chickens for me, and there was about 1/4 tube left over to spread on the roosts. I made a bit of a mess with it.

We used a towel to wrap the chickens, I dunked their feet in 5 gallon buckets, scrubbed them off and dried them, then my son would hold the chicken bundle while I applied the lotion to their feet.

Hope this helps and you figure this out.

Tractor Supply and Amazon both have this, among other places.

 

[NanaK]

@FunClucks Thanks for that! I think I will look for it when I get feed next time just to have on hand. I have read really good things about it. Maybe it will help the OPs hens too.

 

[Eggcessive]

You can make a sulfur ointment or cream comparable to Nustock cream by using Bonide sulfur or sulfur powder from Amazon or from a local ag center. Mix it in mineral oil or petroleum jelly.

 

[Captain Jack Sparrow]

Do their combs look dry and whitish? Too much white is usually a fungal infection. This doesn't look like mites but I could be wrong. Do you see ANY dirt looking crud on the skin indicating mite waste? I would definitely spray the skin with some sort of antiseptic, leaning toward antifungal. Keep it out of the eyes. Fungi are becoming very common now and they are stubborn to kill off. I would also put probiotics in their water daily for a while, human or animal will work. This beefing up the immune system, help them fight this off and stay healthy. A healthy immune system should be able to ward this off if its fungal or bacterial.

TwoCrows,
A couple of the buffs do have pale looking combs. I just thought it was the cold weather reducing their circulation. Not really seeing anything that would indicate mite waste. I do see some flaking that almost looks like little squares of feather covering?

Okay, great idea on the probiotics in the water. I already add some apple cider vinegar.
Thanks again for your help and suggestions.

 

[Captain Jack Sparrow]

You can make a sulfur ointment or cream comparable to Nustock cream by using Bonide sulfur or sulfur powder from Amazon or from a local ag center. Mix it in mineral oil or petroleum jelly.

Eggcessive,

Okay, great. That sounds like a good suggestion. If I can find something here at D&B Supply of the other products you suggested I'll just pick some up. If not, I'll get the sulfur powder and mix with some oil in a spray bottle.

Thank you once again for your suggestions.

 

[Captain Jack Sparrow]

I don't have access to a chicken vet either so I totally understand. Sometimes we just have to do the best we can.

Eggcessive mentioned a product called Nustock it has Sulphur, pine oil and some mineral oil in it. I've not used it myself but have seen it recommended here for different problems. You may find it locally where animal supplies are sold but it is available online. It is usually marketed for horses and is not very expensive. Sulphur is antibacterial and antifungal. So it would cover both. I believe it would also smother some mites and would be soothing to the skin. Here is one place online that sells it.

https://www.jefferspet.com/nustock?_q=nustock&map=ft

Also I wanted to say Welcome to BYC! There are really some good people here that try to help each other. Many are very knowledgeable about chickens and Eggcessive is among the best!
Always feel free to ask questions that's how we all learn.

NanaK,
Thanks for the link. Very helpful. Thanks for the welcome too. Yes, I appreciate everyone's input and willingness to help.

 

[TwoCrows]

@Captain Jack Sparrow sometimes it's quite difficult to diagnose our flocks issues, its hit and miss many times. I have had issues that only years later did I finally understand what was going on. Other troubles I never did figure out. Just keep working with them, stewing on it too, usually if you just don't give up, the answers make themselves known. However I do hope you can solve this and definitely keep us updated on the progress!

 

[Captain Jack Sparrow]

@Captain Jack Sparrow sometimes it's quite difficult to diagnose our flocks issues, its hit and miss many times. I have had issues that only years later did I finally understand what was going on. Other troubles I never did figure out. Just keep working with them, stewing on it too, usually if you just don't give up, the answers make themselves known. However I do hope you can solve this and definitely keep us updated on the progress!

I'll keep at it. I just ordered some sulfur powder and mineral oil to make a treatment. NuStock not available locally. Bit pricey online, but if the homemade brew doesn't work I'll order some.

The very odd thing about this is how it started with only 2 birds for 6 months or so and then started spreading very slowing to the others. You would think mites, fungus..whatever the contagion would spread faster and overtake the entire flock in short order.

It bothers me that this is a problem that I can't solve. Such is life, right?

Thanks again!

 

[TwoCrows]

I'll keep at it. I just ordered some sulfur powder and mineral oil to make a treatment. NuStock not available locally. Bit pricey online, but if the homemade brew doesn't work I'll order some.

The very odd thing about this is how it started with only 2 birds for 6 months or so and then started spreading very slowing to the others. You would think mites, fungus..whatever the contagion would spread faster and overtake the entire flock in short order.

It bothers me that this is a problem that I can't solve. Such is life, right?

Thanks again!

If there is one thing I've learned with keeping poultry and that is many times my situation is unlike anyone elses. Everyone's surroundings, stressors, soil, water, altitude, air quality, feed, birds and their genetics, everything is unique to your yard and your flock and it all can come together much differently than another persons yard and issues. And because of this, diagnosing isn't that cut and dry. Speaking of feed, have you tried a feed change? Sounds ridiculous but who knows! (If you do try a change, slowly mix in the new with the old for a 2 week period to avoid any crop issues.)

As for contagions moving slowly, they can. Many times these pathogens slowly wear the bird down over months and months until the immune system can't fight it any more, birds show signs of disease.

You might try this, it has helped me find answers to some of my most perplexing troubles... Think about this quandary just as you are falling asleep. The very moment you wake up stirring, before your brain is even active, and even if you are getting up in the night to go to the bathroom or its morning already, ask yourself "what is this, what is the answer to heal my birds..." Don't even think before asking yourself this question. Keep doing this every morning when your brain is empty and sometimes it dawns on you, the very first thought. Its like the adage on the true and false answers, the first answer that comes to mind many times is the answer.

 

[Captain Jack Sparrow]

If there is one thing I've learned with keeping poultry and that is many times my situation is unlike anyone elses. Everyone's surroundings, stressors, soil, water, altitude, air quality, feed, birds and their genetics, everything is unique to your yard and your flock and it all can come together much differently than another persons yard and issues. And because of this, diagnosing isn't that cut and dry. Speaking of feed, have you tried a feed change? Sounds ridiculous but who knows! (If you do try a change, slowly mix in the new with the old for a 2 week period to avoid any crop issues.)

As for contagions moving slowly, they can. Many times these pathogens slowly wear the bird down over months and months until the immune system can't fight it any more, birds show signs of disease.

You might try this, it has helped me find answers to some of my most perplexing troubles... Think about this quandary just as you are falling asleep. The very moment you wake up stirring, before your brain is even active, and even if you are getting up in the night to go to the bathroom or its morning already, ask yourself "what is this, what is the answer to heal my birds..." Don't even think before asking yourself this question. Keep doing this every morning when your brain is empty and sometimes it dawns on you, the very first thought. Its like the adage on the true and false answers, the first answer that comes to mind many times is the answer.

Very true points all around. I live in the high desert plateau of SW Idaho and it is a very unique ecosystem and microclimate. I've only been here 3 years and I've never lived in a place like this. Wild and beautiful, yet harsh and unforgiving on animals and plants. This is our first flock and it's been a blast for myself and the family. We got our birds from a respected local hatchery, and other than this, they have been healthy and happy birds. Lots of room, free range, garden treats and scraps, and just well cared for birds.

I have been getting our layer feed from a local grain farm that has organic, high quality feed. They too have a good reputation amongst hen keepers. I tried some of the big company feeds, like Purina and others that they sell at Tractor Supply or D&B, and our young birds would eat it, but did not seem to prefer it. We switched to our current supplier and they seem much happier. I also give them black soldier fly larvae daily that I get on Amazon.

I am concerned that the cold weather will stress the birds and whatever this is will wear them down. Also concerned about the feather loss and them losing heat during the cold nights. They are enclosed in a barn stall so there is a temperature differential of about 10 degrees so it should keep it above freezing most nights.

I'll keep at it. Still need to do some scrapings for a microscope slide sample and then wait on the sulfur solution.

Thanks again for all the comments and suggestions.