bald patches and sore

[chucklover]

Hi, I've recently purchased 3 new chickens, not pullets but last years stock as none available yet. One of them (a sussex) has bald patches and the follicles look red/sore. This is mainly on her neck & back. She was like this when we got her but she was in a run with a cockerel so I assumed that was why. We've had her a month now but she isn't any better. I've sprayed her with Colombine insecticide spray a few times & the others, I've cleaned out the coop and disinfected thoroughly so there's definitely no mites in there. I clean the poo out every day as well. they're also free range in the garden. I was wondering if it could be a skin or follicle infection. Has anyone got any ideas??????

 

[chrismahon]

Sounds like a mite or lice problem Chucklover as some bury into the quills to suck the blood (feather lice) and the feather then falls out. May be that you need something more effective as a surface spray won't reach them and the only thing I can recommend is Frontline SPRAY (spot-on can be too high a dose and may kill your chickens). Unfortunately it can only be supplied by a vet. Apply once only (retreat 28 days later earliest) at 1.5mL per Kg bodyweight MAXIMUM, sprayed onto the skin after parting the feathers (if there are any to part). Easiest from the little bottle which sprays 0.5mL at a time. The big bottle (has a large blue nozzle) sprays 1.5mL at a time, which is too much. We get good results on Northern Fowl mite (100% so far in 40 cases) applying just 1.0 mL per Kg and they are a difficult mite to kill.