ChickenMamaLissa
Chirping
- Apr 26, 2020
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I have five chickens, all about two years old; three ISAs, one cochin, and a Columbian wyandotte. About a month ago, I noticed one of my ISAs had some scraggly-looking feathers along her saddle. It got progressively worse and the feathers on top of her head also started disappearing (see images 2 and 3). A couple of the others started having similar stick-like feathers around their tails (see photos 2, 3, 4). After reading up on similar conditions on this site, I decided to try deworming them with Safeguard. I have looked over their feathers, under their wings, around their vents, and their necks and I have been unable to see any signs of external parasites. I've been mixing diatomaceous earth into their bedding since deworming them, just to be sure. They aren't scratching at themselves, shaking heads, or anything else that might indicate external parasites. Today I was out giving them some love and noticed the wyandotte has some weird cut-out effect on her feathers. Again, take a look at the pictures. It looks like someone cut shapes out of her feathers with some kind of stamp. Her vent is clean and pink, I didn't feel any scabs or bites, I didn't see anything scurrying away when I moved the feathers under her wings, around her neck, and around her vent. What is happening to these girls? Do I try another dewormer? Ivermectin?
Please no "all natural" solutions. They already get garlic powder mixed with their food, and apple cider vinegar in their water. While these are reasonable preventative measures, they are not treatments for serious illnesses.
Additionally, egg laying in ALL birds has dropped off. Last year we were getting 4 eggs/day but since winter, we've had 1-2 per day maximum.
Thanks for any help you can offer.
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4.
Please no "all natural" solutions. They already get garlic powder mixed with their food, and apple cider vinegar in their water. While these are reasonable preventative measures, they are not treatments for serious illnesses.
Additionally, egg laying in ALL birds has dropped off. Last year we were getting 4 eggs/day but since winter, we've had 1-2 per day maximum.
Thanks for any help you can offer.
1.
2.
3.
4.
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