Very ill flock - ideas please

[Anonymous]

Hello. I am new to this forum but after having read so many of your posts thought that I would join. You seem to have so much knowledge I hope you can help me.

I have lost one hen whose only symptom seemed to be a strange occasional turning of her head suddenly. (Shaver)

I have one white bird who is losing feathers at a phenomenal rate, has a bald neck and backside ( I have seen the others plucking her feathers sometimes and today i saw feathers just falling out) a small pale comb and is very listless staying in the coop and not feeding. She looks like she is not long for this world but has been ill for several weeks! She keeps shaking her head too. No eggs. (LIght Sussex)

I have one bird who has been broody for most of the last six months (sits in box all the time, squawks at me if I look under her for eggs and is not laying) and keeps fluffing up her feathers. I thought it was all broodiness but after the last week and the listlessness of other birds too am now wondering! No eggs. RIR.

I have another white bird who has seemed perfectly healthy until last few days. She is still laying but is now in nesting box all the time. Could be broody but is also now shaking head so I don't know.

Last bird is also a Shaver and has been very perky until yesterday when she started being listless like others and is also shaking head occasionally. No eggs.

All birds now are sitting in coop, three in nest boxes, one on perch.

I have found red mite and am treating coop today with Poutry Shield and Diatoms which has been successful in past. I will give them vits too.

Can red mite cause all these symptoms or have my girls got a disease ? If they have then it seems hard to diagnose given that they have so many diverse symptoms that fit so many things. I am going on holiday in a couple of days time and had hoped to put some fertilised eggs under the RIR to be nearly ready when we cam back. I am now thinking it might be a bad idea - what do others think??

Look forward to someone being able to help me

Thanks
Claire

 

[Davidd]

Hi, i would give all the birds a dusting of red mite/louse powder- clean the coop really well with poultry sheild/diatom- throw the broody hens off the nest and lock them out of the coop-(make sure they have access to feed and water/shelter) and lock them out everyday only let them in at night- clean the coop again and powder the birds in another week or two-get rid of the bedding- if they are feather picking one of the hens get some anti peck spray and spray her- don't sett the RIR if she has been broody for 6 months- she will be in no fit state. Red mite can and will kill your hens if they are not kept under control. They will make your hens lose a lot of weight and cause anemia.
regards, David

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the ideas. Have just spent 1.5 hours spraying Poutry shield in coop and discovered masses of red mite in the roof felt of the attached nesting boxes. Have peeled back and soaked. Hope it works but when back from hols I will attempt to replace felt with Onduline or equivalent! Am now finding mites on me and am off to have shower!!
I hope that all the symptoms are caused by the mites but does anyone know why the hens keep shaking their heads? Surely that isn't because of red mite? And can the one losing feathers and with a pale small comb be just suffering from the stress of being plagued by red mite?

Claire

 

[Davidd]

Hi, if they are broody and in the nest boxes all the time the red mites have longer to suck their blood- making them very anemic - hence the pale comb- - you need to check the birds in the dark- take a torch and look on the birds- in their feathers and along the perches-they do take some getting rid of
As for the head shaking - it could be the mites- hope you are mite free soon
regards, David

 

[Tim]

Chances are this is all caused by the dreaded Red Mite - there are probably so many in the house, there are small Mites on the birds too - especially if broody and they will be crawling on the birds and up to their face. The birds are shaking their heads to try to get the mites off and while they are itching will continue to do so.

It sounds like you have a serious infestation that needs treating every few days - their lifecycle is 7 days so will very quickly multiply unless the house is treated every few days.

Rub diatom into the perches so they are like gymnasts bars - I find this works well for me.

As for the broodies - totally agree with David, you need to break them ASAP as they will be in a very poor state. It takes alot out of a hen being broody - and 6 months is one heck of a time for her, add to this the Red Mite...

Good luck. (oh and welcome to the forum )

Tim