throat feathers missing

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chickenfan

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One of two hens from a friend has some of her throat feathers missing and it seems to be getting worse. Is this some kind of mite?
 
Quite possibly Chickenfan. We have had neck feathers go and it wasn't feather pecking and we assumed a depluming mite, which buries into the quill to get to the blood. I gave one spray in the area with Frontline and eventually the feathers grew back- never confirmed the reason.
 
The other reason could be that they are being feather pecked. I only say this as it happened to one of mine, and I watched the culprit do it. One sat on a drinker so she was at the right height for the other one to peck her throat :shock:
 
Thank you Chris and Mrs Biscuit. I'm sure she isn't being feather-pecked, as she is with a long-standing companion and cockerel, so it must be a depluming mite.
 
If thinking of using Frontline (Fipronil) for this problem, or any other infestation, please be aware that it is illegal to use it on poultry, which are classed as food-producing animals even when kept mainly as pets. It's one of those substances which has an indefinite withdrawal period for eggs and meat, and strictly speaking, you should never subsequently eat eggs from a hen treated with it.
Interesting article here about using this, and other medicines which are not Approved, or Allowed under the veterinary Cascade.
http://www.chippingnortonvets.co.uk/modules/downloadspl2/files/Backyard%20Poultry%20review%20JSAP.pdf
 
Thankyou for the very useful article Marigold and the warnings about Fipronil. I am concerned about using anything toxic on her as she is a breeding bird. I've used one drop of Ivermectin, which I know is horrible and will give her 1 month egg withdrawal. She is 4 years old but laying every day. I can't see any mites so if they are inside the feathers diatamous earth may not work.
 
Our vet prescribed Frontline SPRAY. It is supposed to stay in the skin layer and not enter the bloodstream, so no egg withdrawal. I have used it frequently and can say that the results seem to confirm that it stays in the skin layer, but surprisingly in a chicken for up to 3 months, but their skin is unusual and very delicate. You need to be very careful about the dosing. Frontline SPOT-ON is very different and I know someone who lost birds after a vet administered it.

In France the Frontline spray can be bought over the counter at any agricultural merchant -the spot-on can't. This is completely opposite to the UK which begs the question "why?"

Obviously we are not in the UK so Marigold's reference to licensing is irrelevant to us -the French have no issue with it. Licensing is an expensive process so many drugs are not licensed- not because of the heath issues but because the costs won't be recovered by increased sales. The French won't buy English meat at all -a whole different subject!
 
Very helpful as always, Chris. I'm not sure Frontline spray exists here. I've now noticed that the cockerel of the trio from my friend has a pink patch and some feathers missing from his feathered legs. Perhaps it is scaly leg mite, which I think is also related to depluming mite you mentioned.
 
Of course it's entirely up to people to do what they consider is best, but it's responsible to be aware of the risks to human and animal health before using drugs which are not designed for poultry and are actually illegal to use on them in the UK.
 
I wonder if bathing and shampooing the birds (like they do for shows) might be another option? It might drown quite a lot of the initial mites. Ivermectin seems to be the only treatment for feather depluming mite. In this case, I might check with my vet as I don't feel my eyesight is quite up to full identification and they have accurate scales for my tiny sablepoots.
 
This is a very uninformed and unscientific post but I was amazed at how my chickens seemed to like a bath and totally submitted to the experience including the blow dry! (equally cautious setting). Story's Guide recommends the elbow test, as for a baby, and 2 rinse tubs ready to follow... And dog shampoo as having the advantage of also discouraging pests. Its also totally a totally hilarious thing to do!
 
You're right, even those who think a bath is the devil's work seem to like a nice blow dry :D Takes ages on an orpington though :D I caught my OH asking one hen if she'd been anywhere nice on her holidays :lol:
 
I've now read that bathing in a mild baby shampoo with flowers of sulphur is helpful, then applying a cream such as E45 with flowers of sulphur added. This sounds like a less toxic option. They are now busy bathing in diatomaceous earth mix, although I don't know if this will help as the depluming mite gets under the skin.
 
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