Single hen

[umbrella thursday]

I have two wyandotte and two pekin bantams who live happily in a . We've had them a year now, they seem pretty contented and free range for much of the day as long as we are in. Recently, Mop, our gold laced wyandotte has lost all the feathers from round her neck and over the top of her head. She is still laying, but the feather problem seems to have got worse rather than better. I'm not sure what it is. Bucket, the silver laced wyandotte has similar on her breast. I haven't seen them being bullied, indeed if there is any food grabbing to be done it is these rather than the pekins who do it.

 

Can anyone help? I did have a red mite outbreak last year and seemed to get on top of it but suspect I may have one or two, despite using the red mite powder and keeping the eglu clean - we even have the plastic roosting bars. I'm at a loss to know what the problem is.

[The Dogmother]

It's the wrong time of year for them to be moulting, have you checked them for lice?

[umbrella thursday]

hi claret and thank you - yes i thought it was the wrong time of year for moulting - i wondered about lice - i have looked them over but they aren't very good at being handled. I will have another good look and see. If they do have lice what is the best thing to do? Sorry to sound clueless, we are still learning an awful lot.

[westleigh]

Hi i use Diatom on mine

[Egluntyne]

Xeno 2000 *not licensed for use on poultry in UK will get rid of them efficiently.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Cat Frontline (also not licensed for chooks) worked for me....well my chooks at least !!

 

Sha x

[Egluntyne]

Don't forget that with all products not licensed for poultry, there is an egg withdrawal period.

[The Dogmother]

Xeno 2000 *not licensed for use on poultry in UK will get rid of them efficiently.

 

I use this too and Johnson's Anti-mite spray if they have lots of lice.

[umbrella thursday]

thank you all for your advice, I will look into it and check out the egg withdrawal period

[The Dogmother]

Unless the product or the vet specifies otherwise, it's best to withdraw them for 7 days from treatment.