Eglu Cube Coop For Sale

[EllieFRG]

2 of our chickens have in the last month lost the feathers on their back near the tail (definitely not moulting!) We assumed they were being pecked by the third chicken as there had been a change to their flock recently.  However a few weeks after going bald 1 of the girls started limping; she is an old girl so we wrote it off as that. She then started bleeding in the same area, got scaly skin and sadly went quickly down hill and died. I am now worried it’s something contagious that could kill the others. I’ve looked for mites and couldn’t see anything, but understand they can be hard to spot and with so many different types not sure what to look for. 

Does anyone have experience of similar symptoms or ideas for treating it? They are free range in our garden, plenty of space and light, clean bedding, layer pellet diet - all the basics should be right.

thanks for your help, from novice chicken keeper

[Beantree]

The only thing I have experience of with those symptoms is being over-trodden by a cockerel. Has your third chicken changed sex? You would be looking for 'not laying', 'attempting to crow' and increased growth in the comb and wattles. They don't actually change sex, so they can't reproduce, but they do exhibit cockerel behaviour which includes treading the hens.

[EllieFRG]

Thanks for your suggestion, that’s really interesting. Chicken No 3 doesn’t lay but I haven’t witnessed any other cockerel symptoms. I’m wondering if it’s worth treating for mites just in case, any experience of getting rid of these? All the advice online is about prevention. 

[Beantree]

I've just checked our medicine cabinet and we have some tubs of 'Barrier louse powder' which we used years ago. Just sprinkle it under the feathers making sure it doesn't get into the eyes, so treat the body only. Lice move around at skin level and will pass through the treated areas.

[EllieFRG]

Thank you so much, that’s really helpful. I’ll give it it a try and hope that sorts her out.