White dust (?) on new (to us) RIR hen

[Mr.Dad]

Hi folks.....

We got a Rhode Island Red hen Saturday to keep our other hen happy......they have been seperated by a small metal cage and seperate dog carriers at night.....I was planning to let them start hanging together today but I have a question.....

I see white dust type stuff that works its way down her feathers....I notice this in the morning....once she starts moving about it falls off....

The guy we got from seemed really into chickens...her wings are clipped etc....he said he was selling some to reduce his flock a little....he said she's about one year old....

Does this dust suff sound familare to anyone??....Concerns??....

As a side note our coop is well underway and I'm very happy with how it's coming along....once it's done I'll post pics of the process.....

Dennis

cool new icons btw

 

[chickbea]

Call the guy you got her from - he may have dusted her for parasites before he sent her to you.
Otherwise, if she has recently molted, it could be the sheaths that cover the new growing feathers. Other than those two things, I don't know what it could be.

 

[Freebie]

I don't have any ideas about the white stuff, I was just glad to see you. I have not seen you around for awhile and was beginnig to think with all of your "luck" you had changed your mind about the chickens. So, anyway, I am just glad to see you back. And I am awaiting pictures of your flock and coop.

 

[Mr.Dad]

Quote:

My free time has been spent measuring, cutting, nailing, etc....I decided to build it just for the chickens rather than buy a shed and convert it....the shed would have saved some time but this is going to be much more 'chicken like' when I'm done.....

I'm hooked...there's no turning back....just lots more to learn from folks like you

......

 

[Mr.Dad]

Quote:
I figured we would later today.....I'm one of them guys that likes to have thoughts in my head before making those calls.....

Thanks for the info (thumbs up)

 

[bayouchica]

Hey Mr. Dad,

Glad to hear you got a friend for your lonely hen

I won't think too much about the white stuff, maybe just chicken dander. You may want to check her over for bugs just in case.
It's alot of fun building a coop isn't it? We're adding on to ours.

You don't have too much fun,now

Later, Miriam

 

[Mr.Dad]

Quote:
It is a lot of fun...we're not 'saving' any money but it's gonna be a neat conversation starter.....

Could you give me the basics on how to check them over for bugs etc...

Thanks Miriam....

Dennis

 

[silkiechicken]

One place little bugs like to hide is in the fluff on their bottoms and under their hackles. Pick up your new chickie and quickly lift up bunches of feathers on random places on the bird, centering around the neck and undersides. Most parasites will scurry away from light so you'll have to do this for awhile to ensure nothing can be found. One pest I've had a problem with is feather mites, they are located at the shaft of each feather and are pale yellow. Also look for clumps of eggs at feather bases which will cause the normally fluffy feather bottoms to be clumped together.

 

[bayouchica]

Silkiechicken said it.... I check my birds at night with a flashlight. Them bugs like to hang out below the vent area & above.
Just a suggestion since your building your coop, make sure you have a dry place availble for your birds to dust bathe.BTW wood ashes work good as long as they stay dry.
Here's a link to Miss State, scroll down to external parasites,they have lots of info, if ya want to check it out.http://www.msstate.edu/dept/poultry/disparas.htm#mite

Take some pics of your coop along as you're putting it together. We'd like to see how it turns out.

Have a good day, Miriam

 

[Mr.Dad]

Thanks for the tips (thumbs up)

I started a thread on our copp.....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=1266