bald chicken -- not molting

[kgdubois]

Hello everyone

I have a Partridge Rock hen that is really not doing well. She is weak, one leg isn't working and she has no feathers left on the very top of her head (it looks like male-pattern baldness, or a monk). She has already gone through a molt this year, only three months or so ago. I do not know how she injured her leg, but she will not put any weight on it at all. I've felt around on her leg and cannot feel a break and she does not have bumblefoot, and that's all I know to look for.

I have isolated her into a large dog crate (otherwise the Broody Hen Palace) with food and water for the time being. She was in with the rest of the flock for about three days, and they didn't seem to pick on her unless she tried to get to the treats while they were there. Does anyone know what could be causing the weird baldness? Her wattles and comb are very shriveled and almost completely gray-colored, as is the skin on her little bald head. It is also flaky and gross looking.

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[CMV]

That screams "Mites!" to me. Have you done a thorough bug check at night? Mites tend to only get on birds at night when they are active- the mites, not the birds. The rest of the time the mites live in the environment. So, unless you look the birds over at night, you won't see much.

The feather loss around the head could also be from the other birds in the flock pecking at her. Ailing chickens do not do well in a flock. They are harassed mercilessly.

I'd start with the bug check and let us know what you find.

 

[kgdubois]

oh nooo

not mites!!!

I've been DREADING that...this might sound horrible, but I really hope it was just picking by her flock mates & that by isolating her in the Broody Hen Palace she'll recover & be okay.

Thank you for the reply...I'll update as things change