Pekin cockerel's neck going bald

[elmdene]

I've noticed recently that Basil's neck feathers are coming out. It started off with the feathers looking a bit 'greasy' which I once read was a symptom of northern fowl mite - I think? Now he is going balder by the day and the skin underneath looks a bit yellowish and flakey/crusty. It's also like this around his vent area, but he has always had bad skin. I did have the same sort of thing around the head with another chicken who died a year or so ago (not necessarily from this problem). I have inspected him and can't see any crawlies (although I've never seen any so not entirely sure what they look like in real life) and I've also applied vaseline and aloe vera gel (not at the same time) to both ends to try and heal it over but it doesn't seem to have helped. Yesterday I noticed one of his girls was pecking at his neck and he was quite submissive, so am wondering now if it's hen-pecking and whether I should get anti-peck spray, or whether she is grooming him and pecking at some sort of mite? He's quite old (well at least 5 years old) but I've never seen the girls (who are much younger) peck him before. Any ideas on what it might be (simple moulting? he's never moulted before though) and how I can help him as it is getting worse and with the pecking it's starting to get a bit raw? Poor Basil - he's normally very majestic looking but often looks a bit dejected now, which could of course also be due to his age and the weather.

 

[Marigold]

Hi Elmdene, sorry to hear about poor Basil. It does sound as if it might be Northern Fowl Mite. Did you look up this link on Poultrykeeper?

http://poultrykeeper.com/external-problems/northern-fowl-mite
It says that it's more common in Spring and Autumn, on the crests and vents, and involves dropped neck feathers. Maybe Ivermectin would be more effective than Vaseline and aloe vera? Or louse powder, as the article suggests? You would need something to actually kill the mites, I think, rather than just soothing the bird.

 

[elmdene]

In case it is Northern Fowl mite (although no pale wattles and I can't see anything like a mite), I'm not quite sure which type of louse powder I should be using. The louse powder I have, which contains permethrin, says not to use directly on animals. The other sort available seems to be the diatomaceous earth type, which I do use in the chicken house and bedding, as well as in their dust bath which Basil was in this morning. Can anyone advise please. I gave Basil a good dusting with diatom this afternoon but it doesn't seem very nice stuff to put on his skin as it just makes it drier. The alternative is to use Ivermectin, but as Basil is just a little pekin, I guess he would only need 2 drops max. I'm also worming them with Flubenvet at the moment - does anyone know if it's harmful to do both at once?

 

[BabyBantam]

I keep pekins dose with 2 drops of ivermectin and then repeat dose a week later. This should clear any mite, but make sure you repeat. I have done this while using flubenvet without any issue.
I also put a big dollop of diatom in the girls dust bath and a good sprinkling of louse powder, this kills any creepys in the dustbath, but make sure you mix it in well. Diatom is great stuff and is fine to put directly on the chicken. The dustbath is the best place for it though, as the chicken knows where she wants it so best placed to bathe herself.

 

[elmdene]

I checked back on some previous posts about nfm, and as I already had some Frontline in the cupboard, gave Basil a spray at both ends. Hard to tell if he's getting better yet, but at least I feel better about being proactive. I haven't seen anything crawling, even with a magnifying glass though, and his feathers don't look black at the base - it's more that the skin around his vent looks yellowy, very dry and flakey/scabby, but not bloody. He's lost a lot of his head feathers and again the skin looks very dry and flakey. His wattles are still red though and he eats like a horse, although sometimes looks a bit down in the tail and doesn't seem to be crowing except for very early in the morning. Then today I noticed one of the girls had yellowish crusty gunge in her ears - not sure whether this could be nfm or ear mite? Anyway I wiped them round with Frontline on a cotton bud and ran it through her head feathers too which seemed slightly 'greasy'. Did the same with the other girl just to be on the safe side. Still very confused though as I haven't seen anything moving. Also I'm not sure what to do with their coop. I normally spray it with Total MIte Kill (anyone know how long the solution made from concentrate lasts after making up?) every week when I clean them out, but not so much at this time of the year when it is so cold and it takes so long to dry out. Will this work or should I be using something stronger?

 

[elmdene]

I forgot to say that I put diatom in the dust bath which the 2 girls use a lot - Basil not so much for some reason. Is louse powder different to mite powder?

 

[BabyBantam]

Mite and louse powder can contain different chemicals, or not depending on whether they are natural ingredient based. I don't use wet cleaners in the winter as they don't dry, so make up diatom, louse powder mix with sanulan in it and brush it into all the cracks and over all the surfaces, making sure it's rubbed in well to stop it being too dusty. Seems to work until I jetwash the ark in the spring when it gets warmer.
By the sound of it, you have northern foul mite. I talked to a friend who had it and they never saw anything moving either, just the greasy feathers and skin irritation. I would dose the whole flock (but check egg withdrawal) I don't know the dose for frontline though. I know chris has posted a lot about its good points, so you should be able to find something on here to help.

 

[Marigold]

Frontline isn't licensed for use on poultry and can be dangerous, especially to smaller birds. Take care - dosage is unknown, if not applied on vets advice, and it can have serious, even fatal, consequences.

 

[elmdene]

Thanks Babybantam and Marigold. I know Frontline isn't licensed but as you say, Chris seems to use it with good results. My vet actually got it for me for Sybil (who had a whole host of mysterious ailments and sadly died, although I'm pretty sure not from the Frontline) a year or so ago so I feel/hope it's ok if used very sparingly. Basil is 1100 g and I gave him a spray and a bit, plus a brush round his head. The girls just got a wipe round their heads and ears. Is Ivermectin preferable, although I don't think that is licensed for chickens either is it? The alternative is a diatomaceous earth product which I have used to no significant effect, or chemical louse powders, which say you should not apply directly to the chicken. So I'm not sure what else to use? Also, with the small application to the girls, should I have an egg withdrawal period do you think?

 

[Tim]

Ivermectin isn't licensed either... although it is in some countries and most poultry vets will prescribe it for external parasite problems. It's generally regarded as pretty safe. Chickenvet have suggested it in their articles and it's often used on other birds such as pigeons that can suffer from similar crawlies.

Frontline is different though - it contains fipronil which is not an allowed substance in food producing animals, despite some vets occasionally prescribing it.

Fipronil spray (Frontline) for poultry has the potential for eggs to be unsafe and some well known poultry vets (such as Victoria Roberts) have written about the dangers of fipronil getting into eggs in the poultry press (please don't ask which one, I can't remember now and have a shelf full of magazines!)

I'm not aware of any tests for fipronil residues in eggs after spray (topical) treatments but residues are certainly detectable in eggs after an oral dose (tested by European Food Safety Authority EFSA 2002 tests).

If in any doubt, I would speak to a vet and get the bird checked over.

 

[dorsetduckowner]

Agree with Tim, although some vets do prescribe frontline, it is off license and there should be an egg withdrawal period. I would get your vets advice before using it. In fact I would try and get your chicken checked out by the vet if you possibly can if he doesn't respond to the preferred method of lice powders.
x

 

[elmdene]

I can thankfully report that Basil seems much improved. The flakey skin on his head and around his vent has gone and it all looks much healthier now, albeit a little bit sore and bit bald still. Yesterday he crowed during the day for the first time in ages and his mojo seems to be working again! I'm still not sure exactly what the problem was though. The lady in my local chicken requisites shop suggested that it could featherpecking because of his age - he must be about 6 now, whereas the 2 girls are only about 18 months and quite independent. Yesterday I even saw him putting his head down in a submissive position for them to peck him, although it could be grooming or because it's itchy? He certainly seems to be more in charge of them than he has been for a while and is generally more perky, although I suppose he is getting to be an old man now. So I'm not sure whether it was the Frontline that cured it. I shall get some Ivermectin in for future use though, the only problem being it is so expensive and has a relatively short shelf life. I now have another issue with one of my girl's ears but I don't think it's related so will start another thread. Thanks for all the advice as ever.