Can any one help with a diagnosis

[tlck9]

Hi All,

My 9 chucks are doing well, however Henna shown in the photo has two patches one either side of no feathers. The areas arent sore and I regular check them for mites, their ark is regular cleaned out and I red mite powder it ever couple of weeks or so.

Henna when I placed straw into the coop for warmth in the winter, began to sneeze, when I remove it as it did, she stopped. My ex batts, had a few sneezes when I got them and these have cleared up, although Henna has off and on been sneezing.

Can anyone suggest what this is?



The only thing I have changed recently is to leave their pop door open at night, since there are nine and they are within an exclosed run.

She doesn not seem ill, and none of the others have similar patches

[Nicos]

Could they have been plucked out by one of the other chooks?

[tlck9]

Henna is more like to peck than to be pecked, she is not quite top chuck, but one of the team leaders should I say

[RichmondHens]

Almost certainly the feathers are being plucked out by one or more of the others. This is a typical sign of boredom. Can you hang plenty of greens/plants around the run for them to peck at instead?

The sneezing could be an allergy, especially if it stops if you take the straw away, but can't say for certain. Any other symptoms eg rattly breathing or wheezing?

[tlck9]

they have stuff to do, and have quite a sizable run, not sure I can fit much more in as I already put greens up and I usually place an apple on a bbq skewere which keeps them entertained

I suppose once this is eaten then they could get bored, but I'm at work during the day, so between 9.00 and 4 they are on their own

she has a small rattle which she has had for a while now, when I spoke with the BHWt, what with the others having sniffles, they said it was nothing to be concerned about

once of my ex batts has the similar rattle, she had it for about 3 weeks before it finally went, which is why I havent been overly worried.....but with the two combined I was worried

[tlck9]

anything I tend to hang up tends to get ripped down, pronto, so if you have any ideas on what to hang and how I would be pleased to hear, if its boredom then I need to try and sort it out, dont want my girlies being bored!

[RichmondHens]

I think some people use hanging baskets with stuff planted in them. Or things wedged in balls of chicken wire which the hens have to work to get out. Others on here may come up with more ideas.

Our enclosures are pretty large - fenced off areas within grass paddocks including bushes and trees - so no need for extra entertainment for my hens and therefore we don't get feather pecking problems here.

Re the sneezy hen - If she is intermittently sneezy and rattly then she MAY have a mycoplasma infection, you need antibiotics to treat. Tylan soluble is the usual one for this which is added to the drinking water for ALL birds, but note there is an egg withdrawal period of a week. It might be worth checking with your vet to get an official diagnosis though.

[Suechooks]

Could she be pushing her head through the wire and rubbing feathers off?

[jessmorris]

I wondered if she could be rubbing the feathers off like Suechooks does.....

[Suechooks]

I wondered if she could be rubbing the feathers off like Suechooks does.....

Me? I don't rub me feathers off!!!

[tlck9]

i do have wire and they do on occassions stick their heads through. their are no markings on her, its clean no scratches like you would expect if it was plucked, and non missed, practically identifical each side.

I held her up tongiht to me, and she didnt seem to be wheezing, but she does make a bit of a rattle when she sneezes

[jessmorris]

hohohohoho (this is for suechooks!)

[tlck9]

Re the sneezy hen - If she is intermittently sneezy and rattly then she MAY have a mycoplasma infection, you need antibiotics to treat. Tylan soluble is the usual one for this which is added to the drinking water for ALL birds, but note there is an egg withdrawal period of a week. It might be worth checking with your vet to get an official diagnosis though.

Thanks Richmondhens, I will speak with our vet about it,