Mites?

[TracyLyn]

This is Esther. Over the weekend I noticed her butt was bare and she had some bleeding. I cleaned her up and sprayed with Vetericyn. Today I noticed neck feathers that were broken or missing and I did see her picking at her feathers as well. She is eating and scratching normally but she seems to be developing more areas of concern. Is this mites? None of my other girls are having this issue. Thanks!

 

[Debbie292d]

Those feathers look pulled out and is that bruising? I'd have thought perhaps molting because she's growing some new ones, but bleeding and bruising isn't caused when they molt unless it's both. I suspect someone's picking on her.

Feather picking can be caused by several things, but the number two reasons are overcrowding and/or lack of protein.

Chicken coops should be about 4 sq feet per bird and runs about 15 sq feet per bird.

If feeding layer feed, you might want to consider an all-flock which is usually 20% protein vs 16%, on average. You would then need to provide a separate dish of oyster shell at all times as all-flock feeds have less of it.

If she also may have mites, most use Permethrin/garden powder. Cover her well with it, probably all of your chickens too, then all of the areas of the coop including nest boxes. You might want to clean the coop before you do that.

 

[TracyLyn]

Overcrowding isn’t a problem but I was also thinking maybe a protein issue. She is only 9 months so too young for a molt and from what I have seen on our cameras, she is not one to be pushed around.

I have a vet appointment tomorrow so we shall see.

Thanks for the response!

 

[Debbie292d]

Overcrowding isn’t a problem but I was also thinking maybe a protein issue. She is only 9 months so too young for a molt and from what I have seen on our cameras, she is not one to be pushed around.

I have a vet appointment tomorrow so we shall see.

Thanks for the response!

Awesome! Let us know what the vet finds out! I hope it's nothing more serious!

 

[nuthatched]

Overcrowding isn’t a problem but I was also thinking maybe a protein issue. She is only 9 months so too young for a molt and from what I have seen on our cameras, she is not one to be pushed around.

I have a vet appointment tomorrow so we shall see.

Thanks for the response!

9 months is not too young at all, almost all birds go through a mini molt every other month until about a year old.