Scabby heads

[Verinda]

Two of my hens have yellow scabby bits on their heads, I have dabbed their heads with warm water and a very mild sea salt solution just to try to clean it off but not with a great deal of success.

Yesterday I cleaned and lime washed the inside of the henhouse and dusted the hens just in case it's something to do with mites, although there's no trace of any mites and I do clean them out and dust everywhere inside and out with mite powder regularly.

They really seemed quite well up until today when they hung around the henhouse looking gloomy and didn't ramble about scratching and trying to get in the kitchen as normal. The other two hens are fine.

Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated.
Many thanks

[Scarlet]

Is it their combs Verinda? If it's their combs they could have suffered from frost. Grease them up with a touch Vaseline/ or that white nappy cream which name seems to escape me! If it's on their heads, it could be that their are getting cut on something? Are they sticking their heads through the fence/ any rough edges on the coop etc.

[Verinda]

Many thanks for your reply Scarlet, unfortunately the answer is no to all your questions, it's not on their combs it's either side of the combs, on their feathers it looks like crusty pus and but they've no cuts or scrapes, we haven't had any frost, poor Maggie is starting to loose a few feathers on her head, the skin underneath looks normal, apart from where the yellow bits are stuck fast, it's so mysterious.

[Scarlet]

Well, I thonk without a photo it's difficult to guess. Have you googled fowl pox? Are you sure you haven't got any lice or mites?

[Verinda]

Crikey I just googled fowl pox it looks horrendous, I hope it doesn't turn into that. As far as I can tell there's not a trace of lice or mites, I had mites last year but not since.

I'll take a photo tomorrow.

[Scarlet]

Sorry Verinda, I didn't mean to scare you..just trying to think out of the box! It's also good to be aware of everything. To be honest it's a little early for mites..they come when it's warmer. Lice live on the bird (not in the coop like mites) but to be honest,you've got me puzzled.

[Verinda]

It's just great to have a bit of help and to be able to discuss this with someone who knows way more than me about hens!

Hopefully a photo will shed some light on it.

[Verinda]

I took a couple of photos today, the first one is Tilly showing the mystery blackish oily substance on her feathers, that's how it seems to start, then the yellowish scabby bits. The second photo is poor Maggie and her balding head! I have searched for any kind of oil or anything that they may have got on their feathers from around here, there just isn't anything. I am totally at a loss to know what to do for them.

I read all about fowl pox and it doesn't really seem to be it thankfully.

[Scarlet]

I'm really stumped Verinda. I'm still tempted to say mites. I'm hoping someone else will come along to help

[Verinda]

I have cleaned and lime washed and hunted for mites but haven't found any at all. I'll keep you posted, hopefully it will clear up and thank you for your help and thoughts, much appreciated.

[Scarlet]

I've never seen them on any bird but the depluming mite is very different to the red mites that you get in the coop. Lice (I had a bad case one winter ) is obvious to the eye. They hand in clumps on their feather around the vent. Almost looks like little bits of cottonwool. The Depluming mite is not visible to the human eye (I've g@@gled - I remember someone asking on here a while ago) attacks in spring/early summer. Only goes on the head and neck area and buries under the skin, a pus like substance is secreted and they feed on that. ( I searched but I couldn't find out what colour ) Later the feather around the head and neck fall out. You can kill these by suffocation, like scarey leg mite. For peace of mind (and it won't hurt the bird) I would treat the head and neck with a barrier cream. Vaseline, E45, sudo cream etc.

[Verinda]

It does sound like it could be the depluming mite, especially as there is a pus like secretion. I will treat all four of them with a barrier cream and let you know how things go.

Thank you Scarlet, I really appreciate all your help x

[Verinda]

Just to say I plastered on the E45 and I must say Maggie's head looks much better, but she isn't very well now, she seems weak and keeps stumbling which is upsetting for her and for me too

[Scarlet]

I did read Verinda that the Depluming mite often attacks those that have a poor immune system/unwell. Is she an exbat? Remember that hybrids often only have a 4-5 year life span and after being used as an egg machine her life span is reduced by half as much again. you are doing all you can.

[kathyd]

Antibiotics? Tuna? What a horrible thing to happen! Just when I think I must have seen every chicken ailment going, another one shows up! I do hope your poor birds are OK Verinda - are the other 2 still not showing any signs? Scarlet - does normal lice powder protect against these depluming ones too do you know?