Feather loss

[Wrigley62]

Good afternoon everyone,
It seems like spring as finally arrived here in the states, at least here in New England. The girls are out and about scratching and pecking at everything. The garden is almost all planted, I'm just waiting to put in the warm weather veggies. How is it where you live?
My flock just turned one year old this month and everyone seems to be doing fine, as far a being healthy. I do have about six hens that have lost feathers around their tails and their, as you "Brits" call it, thier bums I haven't seen any mites or lice in their nesting boxes or on them. I haven't even seen the other girls pecking them. It started towards the end of winter with just two, then three and so forth. We've tried "Bluekote" and this other anti-peckig lotion. Neither seem to do any good. Their all eating, drinking and acting fine. I'm not sure what it is. I will try to post some pics tomorrow so you can see for yourselves.

So, if any of you have any ideas on how to solve this problem or even what the cause is I would really appreciate the help.

Thanks and Take care

Wrigley

 

[Marigold]

Hi Wrigkey, Gosh, that year went fast, didn't it, hurricanes, snow and all, glad to hear the chickens have come through it all. Yes, Spring is here at last, very late and still rather cold, but the grass looks green again and the flowers are enjoying the cool sunshine.
I wonder if your chickens have a lice infestation? Have a look at this on the Poultrykeeeper website and see if any of it looks possible.

http://poultrykeeper.com/external-problems/lice-on-chickens-and-poultry

 

[Wrigley62]

Thanks Marigold, It's possible. I'll check closer tonight and I'll have Terri pick up something today just in case. They don't seem to be distressed, I don't see them over preening or anything out of the norm. I'll dust them with DE tonight and give their coop a really good cleaning.

Thanks again,

Wrigley

 

[Marigold]

If you just google Lice and Chickens a lot of tips and remedies will come up. Treat the cockerel especially carefully or he will spread them back on to the hirls in his loving embrace! Whilst you've got hold of each one in turn, have a look at her legs as well - after a year you may find some of them may be developing raised scales on their legs which are caused by scaley leg mite and will also need treatment either with a spray-on remedy or Vaseline or both.
All these nasties are very common, like nits in kids hair, so don't feel you've been neglecting your birds, infestations are hard to avoid, you just need to deal with them promptly.

 

[Chuck]

Don't rule out feather pecking as it can happen and go unseen.