Single hen

[SeasideChick]

Hi All,

 

One of my chickens started off a while back with a bald bottom. This now looks like a very raggy bottom .... very dirty, raggy feathers.

 

She is now going bald in other areas .... breast, under wings, near her neck.

 

I'm wondering whether it is because she is running around on mud .... the girls had grass, but through the winter the grass has gone and it's just mud. She seems to be flicking a lot of mud all over her which then seems to stick a bit to her feathers.

 

Perhaps because the mud is damp from the rain it is not a good idea to let her roam around each day on mud.

 

Now I'm wondering whether it is the first signs of mud fever?????

 

She is still laying and eating and behaving normally.

 

Any ideas??????

 

I feel really bad now ....

 

Thanks a lot.

[Egluntyne]

Now I'm wondering whether it is the first signs of mud fever?????

 

I thought that was a malady of horses!

 

She could be just going through a moult.

 

Sounds to me as if she might have lice. Why not examine her closely, especially around her vent and see if you can see either the lice themselves, or clusters of eggs cemented to the base of her featers. If you find them, Johnsons Anti mite Spray or Xeno 200 will shift them, ** neither licensed for use on poultry in UK so there is an egg withdrawal period.

 

Might also be worth worming her.

[SeasideChick]

Thanks for your reply. What would be the egg withdrawal period????

 

[Egluntyne]

For the Johnson's Anti Mite Spray I seem to remember that it is for a couple of days after the application. For the Xeno 200 it for a week after.

 

**Neither are licensed for use on Poultry in UK.

[SeasideChick]

Oh .. that's great! Thank you so much for your help. I've had another good look at chicken and I really can't see anything. However, I think a good spray to be on the safe side is in order!

 

I have ordered some Flubenvet too ... give them a bit of a spring clean so to speak!!

 

Thanks again for your help.

 

[Egluntyne]

You are welcome.