[Fenland Girl]

Hi all, haven't posted on here for months although I have looked in from time to time. Wonder if anyone has any ideas what could be wrong with one of my hens? She started losing feathers in January along with her 3 housemates - I assumed it was just a badly-timed moult. But she has contiuned to lose feathers, particularly from her back, neck and around her vent. The bare skin on her back has turned very dark but she also has new sore patches coming all the time. I am fairly sure she is laying and she seems otherwise well. The hen house has been thoroughly cleaned, the run raked out and limed, they have been wormed, de-loused and de-mited. Two of my other hens are affected a little around their necks, but otherwise OK. What could it be?  :?  I'm at a loss for what else to try!

[GrannieAnnie]

They are not pecking each other are they?  That woulc also explain the new sore patches keep on appearing.  Chickens can peck each other to death you know!!!

By the way, hello again, long time no see!!!!!

[kimT]

Sounds like some kind of mite to me have you tried Frontline?

[Fenland Girl]

Thanks for the suggestions - I am fairly sure she isn't being pecked to any great degree or I would have noticed it happening. My initial thought was mites but I am regularly dusting them with Barrier mite powder and spraying the house with Poultry Shield.

I have got some Frontline for the cats - is this the stuff you mean kim? If so, how much do I use and where do I apply it?

[chicken soup]

If its the frontline drops I think its one drop on the back of the neck.  I used frontline spray on one of my bantams as she was losing feathers near her tail but I now think she is being bullied as she hasn't laid me a egg this year at all and is only just over a year old.  

I would treat her but keep an eye on her also without the other chickens seeing you if you can. You might be surprised by what they are up to when they think no one is looking.

[kizza]

I would automatically presume that the others are pecking it. Keep a close eye out when the hens think you arnt there, They are crafty *. also a long shot but do you give them cod liver oil? or apple cider vinegar in their water?

[Fenland Girl]

A sad update - I have just come back from the vets having had my featherless hen (the grey one in my avatar) put down  :cry: . We didn't really have much option - she was getting worse by the day, covered in bleeding sores. I am still not sure what the problem was but have to assume it probably was pecking even though I never really saw it happening.

I had to take my little boys with me to the vet so explained to them what was going to happen before we went. When we got there my 3 yr old announced 'this is my chicken - she's going to be dead'  :roll:  :oops: .

RIP grey chicken.

[too many girls]

ohhh i am sorry, hope it doesn't happen to me tho, i got  68 of them...............

[chicken soup]

Sorry to hear you had to have your chicken pts.

I would still keep a close eye on your other chickens just incase there is one of them doing the pecking it may start on another one.

[peggyprice]

So sorry, FG.  But aren't kids great?  They have a way of keeping things in perspective, specially at that age     And much better to learn about the realities of life - particularly life with animals - at an early stage and in a positively managed way ...

How are your others doing now?  (birds I mean, rather than kids ... though either will be of interest   )