Major feather loss Help!

[muddy75]

 

[Alic3]

Do you have any treatment recommendations? Should I take her to the vet?

 

[Debbie292d]

Hi everyone! I have had two flocks of chickens, so I am relatively new to raising chickens. We have had a rough start with our latest batch. We ordered our silkies from an untrustworthy company that does not treat their chicks well, and we have had eight that didn't make it. Our black silkie, which is relatively small, has been bullied by our much larger Cochin roosters; there are two of them, along with our two lavender Orpingtons. She has significant feather loss on the top of her back and under her chest. The spots are around two inches by two inches. Her feather loss improved for a minute until she experienced the second bald spot. There are no signs of feather regrowth, and I'm worried about her. She has curly feathers that are unlike my other and last white silkie, named Creampuff from the batch. I thought it may have been mites or lice but didn't see any, so I bought some food called flock leader. They are supposed to help with feather regrowth and calm and lower stress levels. Does anyone have an idea of what it might be? I've tried separating midnight and creampuff, which worked. Should I try again?

Hiya, and welcome to BYC!

Your black silkie is called a frizzle silkie. It’s just a different feather type. I have a couple. The important thing about those is never breed two frizzles together.

I agree with all of those above about keeping the silkies separate from the ones being mean. You may have nicer ones that could get along with them too.

To ensure there are no mite or lice issues, I’d get a can of garden/permethrin dust and dust them and the coop.

Protein helps feathers grow back a bit faster so we have our silkies on 20% protein Kalmbacks Flock Maker and they have oyster shell in a dog dish in the coop.

 

[Alic3]

Is there a certain brand you use for permethrin dust? I’ve tried diatomaceous earth before. Should I use that or buy permethrin dust?

 

[Debbie292d]

Is there a certain brand you use for permethrin dust? I’ve tried diatomaceous earth before. Should I use that or buy permethrin dust?

I use food grade diatomaceous earth in their coop. Monthly, when they aren't in there, I sprinkle it all over the floor and in their nest boxes. I've never had a mite outbreak, but if I did, I'd use the garden dust.

The permethrin I have is called Gardstar Garden & Poultry Dust, but I'm sure many brands are similar, just be sure it says "with Permethrin" or has that in it. This one says it's active ingredient is Permethrin .25%. I use it in my macaw cages, and it works great, but I know many use it on their chickens and coops. It will kill the mites fast, but you should redo it in a week to catch any further ones that maybe have hatched from eggs.

 

[Alic3]

Okay, while I was checking on my silkie, I noticed my lavender Orpington has some black spots on her comb. It also looks like a little part is missing. Is this anything to be concerned about?

 

[Debbie292d]

Okay, while I was checking on my silkie, I noticed my lavender Orpington has some black spots on her comb. It also looks like a little part is missing. Is this anything to be concerned about?

Black spots are usually from being pecked, confirmed by a little part missing. I guess I'd try putting that one with the silkies? If you can get a picture, that would help confirm it's this, and not pox.

Can you maybe narrow this down to who are the bullies? Maybe it's just a couple of mean ones that need to be set apart.

 

[triciayoung]

Hi everyone! I have had two flocks of chickens, so I am relatively new to raising chickens. We have had a rough start with our latest batch. We ordered our silkies from an untrustworthy company that does not treat their chicks well, and we have had eight that didn't make it. Our black silkie, which is relatively small, has been bullied by our much larger Cochin roosters; there are two of them, along with our two lavender Orpingtons. She has significant feather loss on the top of her back and under her chest. The spots are around two inches by two inches. Her feather loss improved for a minute until she experienced the second bald spot. There are no signs of feather regrowth, and I'm worried about her. She has curly feathers that are unlike my other and last white silkie, named Creampuff from the batch. I thought it may have been mites or lice but didn't see any, so I bought some food called flock leader. They are supposed to help with feather regrowth and calm and lower stress levels. Does anyone have an idea of what it might be? I've tried separating midnight and creampuff, which worked. Should I try again?

The silkie needs to be out of that flock and in a flock with her own size. In the meantime, perhaps bring her inside. I put my silkies in their own coop and run.

 

[triciayoung]

Do you have any treatment recommendations? Should I take her to the vet?

Permethrin

 

[sourland]

As @Debbie292d stated, the bird is a frizzle or perhaps even a frazzle of some sort - not a silkie. Feather quality in such birds is frequently poor. Separation from larger birds bullying/breeding her will help to improve her quality of life. Unless you actually see mites or lice, she does not need treatment of any sort.