My little black pekin Sybil had a bit of a bald, slightly flaky head when we got her in August but this has got worse and is now quite crusty and a bit yellowy - almost like eczema. I have put diatom on it and vaseline but neither seems to make much difference - it now looks quite uncomfortable. This may be totally unrelated but she seems to have lost a bit of weight recently (although could be due to a bit of moulting) and she used to be the most fearless and had the most voracious appetite, whereas now she runs away and is quite picky with food, except corn. Can anyone suggest how I should treat her? Thanks
pekin with eczema??
- Thread starter elmdene
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Thank you - I never knew they could get scaly face but it does sound like it. Her throat is also bare so possibly quite bad. Have been looking at some horrible photos of budgies with it. Will put some vaseline on her tomorrow morning and have ordered some Johnsons Scaly Face and Leg Lotion. Should I use anything else like invermectin? I think it would be virtually impossible to get anything down her throat - she used to be fine being held but not now.
victorias poultry
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Liquid Parifin is very good to treat scaly mite both on head and feet. Massage it into her head and feathers around the neck.
She's only a little chicken!
Should I treat the other 3 too? They don't have the scabby bald look but I've noticed for months they have stiff white flakey stuff on the feathers round their head, towards the tips, not the shaft end. Not sure whether this is the shaft of new feathers growing but just in case, in the past I have tried vaseline but not repeatedly. I have also looked at Sybil's feet - they don't look as though they have scaley mite (to my untrained eye) but they are quite white/grey and old looking whereas the others are more yellowy and supple looking. I tried some vaseline today (impossible to get out for liquid paraffin) but it's very difficult to get it on her feet without getting it all over the feathers - is this harmful?
Should I treat the other 3 too? They don't have the scabby bald look but I've noticed for months they have stiff white flakey stuff on the feathers round their head, towards the tips, not the shaft end. Not sure whether this is the shaft of new feathers growing but just in case, in the past I have tried vaseline but not repeatedly. I have also looked at Sybil's feet - they don't look as though they have scaley mite (to my untrained eye) but they are quite white/grey and old looking whereas the others are more yellowy and supple looking. I tried some vaseline today (impossible to get out for liquid paraffin) but it's very difficult to get it on her feet without getting it all over the feathers - is this harmful?
Thanks for asking. I have just finished her last application of Johnsons scaley head lotion and it certainly seems to have done the trick. After 6 applications she is looking so much better and somehow, in such a short time (11 days) has feathers on the top of her head again for the first time in ages. She's still a bit bald on her neck but I'm sure it will get better. Have looked at some pics of black pekins recently and they do seem to look a bit balder on their heads than other colours. Maybe she was just moulting on her head but it did look quite flakey and sort of scabby and had been going on a long time. She also seems to have got her bounce back - she's such a huge personality - Basil, the cockerel thinks he's in charge, but she is really.
I have tried to check her feet but how do you tell if a pekin has scaley leg mite with all those feathers?? I also bought some "Just for scaly leg' spray but it says on the instructions to avoid getting it on the feathers which is impossible with pekins - any suggestions? By the way - you can't buy liquid paraffin in chemists anymore (because it's flammable...?) so the equine version is probably the only one available.
Anyway, I'm so relieved - thanks for the advice.
I have tried to check her feet but how do you tell if a pekin has scaley leg mite with all those feathers?? I also bought some "Just for scaly leg' spray but it says on the instructions to avoid getting it on the feathers which is impossible with pekins - any suggestions? By the way - you can't buy liquid paraffin in chemists anymore (because it's flammable...?) so the equine version is probably the only one available.
Anyway, I'm so relieved - thanks for the advice.
17 glad all is ok now.elmwood
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Hi,
A NCOTB says you seem to be on top of it all......
Just out of interest we had a Pekin who had scaly leg upon her arrival last Feb. Sadly as I was new to chicken keeping It went unnoticed until I realised she didn't scratch like the others, just stood around star-gazing. Anyhow, bought the Nettex Scaly Leg spray and it did the trick. Once it had dried I also put vaseline on her feet, to smother any crawlies. As for her abundant foot feathers, It was nigh on impossible not to get the feathers covered in the stuff, it is quite watery. As a result her legs were cured, and the feathers didn't seem to be any worse the wear.I do regularly spray all my girls as a preventative measure, It does say how often on the bottle which isn't to hand at the moment.
Better to be safe than sorry.
A NCOTB says you seem to be on top of it all......
Just out of interest we had a Pekin who had scaly leg upon her arrival last Feb. Sadly as I was new to chicken keeping It went unnoticed until I realised she didn't scratch like the others, just stood around star-gazing. Anyhow, bought the Nettex Scaly Leg spray and it did the trick. Once it had dried I also put vaseline on her feet, to smother any crawlies. As for her abundant foot feathers, It was nigh on impossible not to get the feathers covered in the stuff, it is quite watery. As a result her legs were cured, and the feathers didn't seem to be any worse the wear.I do regularly spray all my girls as a preventative measure, It does say how often on the bottle which isn't to hand at the moment.
Better to be safe than sorry.
