Stumped on this one and looking for help! Please!

[coach723]

The way the skin on the neck looks bothers me. I would expect more redness, but the skin looks thickened, and I'm wondering about depluming mites. Those are microscopic and burrow into the skin at the base of feathers, and the irritation is bad enough that they will pull out their own feathers trying to get relief. Common areas are around the neck, on the breast and around the vent. A vet can look at a skin scraping with a microscope and ID them. Treatments are ivermectin or permethrin usually. Just throwing that in to cover the possibilities. (DE isn't going to help, and it can cause respiratory irritation to the bird and to whomever is applying it).

This is from Merck Veterinary Manual:

Depluming Mite​

The depluming mite, Neocnemidocoptes gallinae, is found worldwide and burrows into the epidermis at the base of feather shafts, causing intense irritation and feather pulling and loss in chickens, pheasants, pigeons, and geese in spring and summer. Hyperkeratosis, skin lesions, and digit necrosis can result from the burrowing. Affected birds should be isolated and treated with ivermectin or with acaricidal materials.

 

[SmiYa0126]

Can you check under her wings for missing feathers? If she's missing anything you may have a bully hen that is mounting and plucking her.

 

[AnimalLover92]

Hi, I would do 2 things

Hi, I would start with seperating her from the others to rule out being flucked, 2nd I would give her a mite Bath and leave DE for her to dust with and put DE in the coop and about 4 to 6 foot from the coop. If you notice another chick is getting plucked, find the colprite, you may have a roo, or they all need more oyster and they are pulling feathers for nutrition. Make sure you move her around in the yard along with the others to keep the relationship.

Hello and thank you for your response.
She currently is separated atm and inside in a quarantined area. I am going to work on turning my small enclosure which is attached to the larger one but can be blocked off easily. So she’ll be with her flock but unable to come in direct contact.
They do currently have a dust bath in the main enclosure with ash and sand I will add DE into that. I will also give her a DE bath. Even though I am unable to see with a flashlight any signs of mites or lice is they still a chance she may have them? No other chickens are currently experiencing or exhibiting any issues or problems. Just Ebony. I ordered Oyster Shells to add to their food, suggest by another on here.
Do you by any chance have any suggestions on ways one could move a non free range flock around a yard split by a stream and surrounded by forest? I’m stumped there too. I’ve thought about attaching run tunnels to their enclosure that runs along the property but will still keep them safe. We have a bobcat family on the property as well as coyotes. Our two major threats. Lost one of my flock when I first learned about the predators and caught them on camera. Right after they were no longer able to free range. Ebony is a newly added member with 4 others and not apart of the original flock.
Thank you so much for taking time to help me! You’re much appreciated !

 

[AnimalLover92]

The way the skin on the neck looks bothers me. I would expect more redness, but the skin looks thickened, and I'm wondering about depluming mites. Those are microscopic and burrow into the skin at the base of feathers, and the irritation is bad enough that they will pull out their own feathers trying to get relief. Common areas are around the neck, on the breast and around the vent. A vet can look at a skin scraping with a microscope and ID them. Treatments are ivermectin or permethrin usually. Just throwing that in to cover the possibilities. (DE isn't going to help, and it can cause respiratory irritation to the bird and to whomever is applying it).

This is from Merck Veterinary Manual:

Depluming Mite​

The depluming mite, Neocnemidocoptes gallinae, is found worldwide and burrows into the epidermis at the base of feather shafts, causing intense irritation and feather pulling and loss in chickens, pheasants, pigeons, and geese in spring and summer. Hyperkeratosis, skin lesions, and digit necrosis can result from the burrowing. Affected birds should be isolated and treated with ivermectin or with acaricidal materials.

I did not know this at all! Thank you very much! Her neck area does seem plump and swollen to me. The area is also warm to the touch and no visible signs of mites so deplumping mites would make more sense! I am new to the area and have to find a vet that will see chickens still. Looking for one today. I appreciate you responding and helping me!

 

[AnimalLover92]

Can you check under her wings for missing feathers? If she's missing anything you may have a bully hen that is mounting and plucking her.

Under her wings are clear. I’ve seen her many times pull her own feathers out. And she’s currently separated from her flock temporarily to observe and is stop pulling feathers from her neck area only atm. Does she like some feathers on her back right about her tail seem to irritate her as well.
Thank you so much for your help and concerns about my sweet Ebony! You’re much appreciated!

 

[Eggcessive]

DE can irritate the eyes and respiratory system. If treating for depluming mites you can use Eprinex pour on or ivomec pour-on on the back of the neck between the shoulder. Dosage is 0.1 ml for every 2 pounds of weight (or 0.05 ml per pound) and you can repeat that in 14 days. Tractor Supply has those usually, but they may be a little cheaper here:
https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail...MIlsv3yb-RjAMVCUb_AR00XyXKEAQYASABEgKFBPD_BwE

https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail...MI5LmGk8CRjAMVBjYIBR1ptCTTEAQYASABEgLqxvD_BwE

 

[Eggcessive]

Ebony is part of 4 new hens only 5months old and they have never been dewormed to my knowledge. I will look into this immediately, unless you have any deworming recommendations?
Thank you for the tips on Carrots and vitamin B complex! I never knew vitamin B could help with nervous disorders!
I appreciate your help very much!

Quick questions to add, do all worms show up in their fetal matter or not always, any chance you know?
And can worms and/or a nerves disorder cause diarrhea and feather loss?
Is there a chance she has both?

Thank you in advance

Worm eggs do not show up in droppings. You can see large roundworms in droppings sometimes with an infestation. Other worms are hard to see except the more rare tapeworm segments. For worming I recommend Valbazen 0.08 ml per pound (or 1/2 ml for a 4-6 pound hen) given orally once and repeated in 10 days. Another choice is SafeGuard Liquid Goat Wormer 0.23 ml per pound of weight given for 5 straight days. Those 2 wormers will treat round, cecal, gape, and capillary worms. Most feed stores sell SafeGuard. Valbazen may be found in some feed stores and can be purchased here:
https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail...MItcDJycGRjAMVJEP_AR12CAvgEAQYAiABEgJSMvD_BwE

 

[AnimalLover92]

DE can irritate the eyes and respiratory system. If treating for depluming mites you can use Eprinex pour on or ivomec pour-on on the back of the neck between the shoulder. Dosage is 0.1 ml for every 2 pounds of weight (or 0.05 ml per pound) and you can repeat that in 14 days. Tractor Supply has those usually, but they may be a little cheaper here:
https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail...MIlsv3yb-RjAMVCUb_AR00XyXKEAQYASABEgKFBPD_BwE

https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail...MI5LmGk8CRjAMVBjYIBR1ptCTTEAQYASABEgLqxvD_BwE

Thank you very much! I will refrain from any use of DE.
I found this one for a pour on dewormer, in your opinion do you think it’ll work the same as the ones you sent?

https://a.co/d/dYtyxtz

You’ve been such a great help and I really appreciate the links and feedback!

 

[AnimalLover92]

Worm eggs do not show up in droppings. You can see large roundworms in droppings sometimes with an infestation. Other worms are hard to see except the more rare tapeworm segments. For worming I recommend Valbazen 0.08 ml per pound (or 1/2 ml for a 4-6 pound hen) given orally once and repeated in 10 days. Another choice is SafeGuard Liquid Goat Wormer 0.23 ml per pound of weight given for 5 straight days. Those 2 wormers will treat round, cecal, gape, and capillary worms. Most feed stores sell SafeGuard. Valbazen may be found in some feed stores and can be purchased here:
https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail...MItcDJycGRjAMVJEP_AR12CAvgEAQYAiABEgJSMvD_BwE

Good information to know! Thank you very much, again! You’re extremely helpful and knowledge and I appreciate everything you share with me! I have ordered this dewormer!

 

[lintlicker]

You can put DE on her neck area without getting it in her eyes, use a glove if or when you do. I read through the entirety of the post, and I too am suspicious at the look of the skin where the feathers were "pulled". Looks suspicious to me. Sounds like youre doing very well at caring for them, the oyster shells may help, I dont see anythign wrong with the 16-18% feed you were giving either...youre in the upper northeast with me, and the temps have been pretty "iffy" it could be a mite issue as indicated previously.

Forgive me, are these birds something you recently acquired or added to your flock?

personally if I were in your shoes I would be addressing it and leaning towards DE treatment for hte bird, change the litter, scrape roosting bars, clean the entire coop, then DE the entire coop and new bedding and around the run.