What's this?

[polo]

Hi everyone, two of my hens have a "creeping baldness" starting at the head. I might have thought it was to do with moulting - and I did at first. The skin looks odd, red and irritated. The feathers seem to be losing their ?plumes starting at the skin end and it looks like it gradually creeps up the shaft and leaves a little tuft of feather at the end. It looks a little dirty where the shaft goes into the skin .

Theres a couple of pictures attached and I hope they are clear enough.

Any thoughts welcome.

[Suechooks]

Two things come to mind
1. Are they poking their heads through a gap/wire/fencing to get at forbidden goodies - the grass is always greener?
2. Feather mite - haven't a clue how this manifests but may be worth a Google
Actually a third thought - ear mites/lice/external parasite causing them to itch and rub their necks?

[polo]

Hi Sue,

Hadn't thought of the fencing however it is all slabbed outside so dont think they would put their heads through HOWEVER you never know with hens!! will observe!

I cant see any evidence of the usual browny lice - I will google ear mites - don't know what they would look like. I also thought some other sort of nasty small mite but need help with this one!

thanks

[RichmondHens]

My guess is some sort of parasite. Possibly a feather mite or even Northern Fowl mite? but you would need lab analysis to confirm for sure. Give them a good going over with your usual dusting powder - try and keep the eyes covered when you dust the head but this is easier said than done! Rub well into the skin all around the head and neck and repeat in a few days.

[polo]

Thanks RH, I will do this.

I'm currently using diatom powder but thinking I may get something with more active ingredients!

[polo]

A question RH - do you a good poultry lab who can do identification of mites and pests out of interest??
!
Dusted the lot at the weekend with my daughters help and ended up looking like a ghost Covered in powder - I was not easy getting it around their faces! They also had another leg dip in Surgical spirit. In for a penny and all that.

I will keep you up to date on progress

Polo

[Polly Fouracre]

Have your hens been broody? My Pekin girls have been bald as coots but are slowly growing their head feathers back.

[polo]

Funnily enough the two broody's look great, it's the non broodies that have this irritated skin and baldness.

It crossed my mind that its the three from my original batch (all from the same place) that are affected. Ive had them 18 months now. None of the rescue hens from last August are affected.

[RichmondHens]

A question RH - do you a good poultry lab who can do identification of mites and pests out of interest??
!
Dusted the lot at the weekend with my daughters help and ended up looking like a ghost Covered in powder - I was not easy getting it around their faces! They also had another leg dip in Surgical spirit. In for a penny and all that.

I will keep you up to date on progress

Polo

No I'm afraid I don't know any specific lab but I would think any vet should be able to identify common parasites under the microscope. If your local small animal practice can't (or won't) help, try your nearest farm vet and see if they will accept a feather sample by post for analysis. I would hold off for a bit though and see if they improve just from a bit of extra dusting.

[polo]

I would hold off for a bit though and see if they improve just from a bit of extra dusting.

Will do, thanks

[Suechooks]

Depending on how you feel about it you could try Frontline spray. My vet recommends it even though its not licensed for poultry as its never been officially tested. You need the spray though as it works differently from the Spot-on. You can't get the spray online without prescription.
I know everyone has different feelings about this but offering it as a suggestion if powder doesn't work. I use it and have had no problems but maybe wouldn't use it on birds for eating or at least give a decent interval before slaughter - same as with any type of medication really.
On another forum I visit everyone seems to use Harkemectin. Absolutely no experience with this though.
Just a couple of ideas for you to consider if they don't improve.

[polo]

Hi Sue, Thanks. Yes I've searched and come up with the same suggestions.

I have noticed some head shaking this evening as if they are really itchy and trying to dislodge something. Going to dust again tonight but am considering a visit to the vets to talk about Frontline spray. I think I have to use something 'stronger' if the dusting doesn't work soonish because two out of the three affected are obviously uncomfortable. What ever it is they have seems quite resistant to dusting! Probably some sort of grey squirrel mite ;-). Theres enough of them around.

I don't know what the egg withdrawal period should be but my vet is usually good at that sort of stuff.

[RichmondHens]

Something that I've been using this year that IS ok for use on birds - designed for cage birds and pigeons but equally effective on poultry, AND using a natural ingredient - pyrethrum - is Johnsons Anti Mite and Insect spray. Not that cheap, but much cheaper than Frontline and the pyrethrum will break down harmlessly in the environment. You can spray direct onto the bird and it kills lice dead. Just be sure not to eat eggs from that bird for two days afterwards. I tend to use it only on non laying birds to be on the safe side but it is effective. There is a warning on the can to not use it on birds destined for consumption but my take on it is as long as you don't use it on something you are planning to eat pretty soon afterwards, then use on a grower is fine, the pyrethrum will have long disappeared by the time he is oven ready.

[polo]

Just had a look RH and it looks good and easier to get hold of. The girls look ok tonight, not shaking their heads but then they are out round the garden chasing the snails!

I'm not expecting loads of new feathers but I think I would be happy if the skin looks back to normal and not so red and irritated!

thanks for all the advice..everyone!

[polo]

Just thought I would update you all on this problem because we have got it sorted now but it wasn't easy.

I think it was a sort of mite as was mentioned and I started with diatom dusting powder several times a week for 2 weeks and this had no obvious effect. Next, as suggested by RH, I tried Johnsons anti mite spray which seemed to hep with the irritation and head shaking in the short term but quickly went back to normal. This definately made me think it was a mite of some sort.

I then persuaded the vet to give me some Frontline which worked in the end after spraying once a week for 3 weeks. Having said that, the feathers are only just growing back now and they are growing in patchy so whatever this was seemes to have affected the feather follicles.

They are all fine now and I hope this helps someone else!

Polo