Alis girls Posted April 2, 2011 Share Posted April 2, 2011 my girls are moulting round the neck - few bald bits - i have found what I think is dirt on the feathery bits - clear under wings and bums - if you touch it seems to fall off - doesnt move so I dont think its live - should I leave and let the moult take its course. OH also a novice at chicken keeping agreed looked like dirt - they have been rolling around in the muck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted April 2, 2011 Share Posted April 2, 2011 the feathers come through in a protective casing, that crumbles away once the feather is through producing dander, if you hens are dark then the casing will be dark and so could look like dirt I suppose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted April 2, 2011 Share Posted April 2, 2011 Just double check it's not Northern Fowl Mite - see here (not my photo, it's from the web) If you pluck a feather out, then place it on some white paper under a bright light, you'll see the tiny critters running for cover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted April 2, 2011 Author Share Posted April 2, 2011 AAaah hope its not - what do I use if it is? They go in the Eglu happily - is it like red mite? I will do as you suggest - they look well and are laying well . Now worried - never heard of this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted April 3, 2011 Author Share Posted April 3, 2011 Did a check tonight with OH's help - the new feathers are stubbly and couldnt find any thing on them so assumed it was dirt. vent and under wings clear. Thanks for advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 Good news then It seems like NFM have been quite prevalent this winter from the posts about them on various forums. I used Ivermectin drops and Frontline spray (neither licensed for poultry) as I'd heard they were difficult to get rid of. If that hadn't done the job, I'd have tried bathing my reluctant and un-cooperative Indian Game cock with dog flea shampoo - fortunately I didn't have to! NFM live on the bird, not the house so they don't make them reluctant to roost at night. It was a mucky bum that first alerted me, so now whenever I see one, I check for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted April 4, 2011 Author Share Posted April 4, 2011 Surprisingly clean bums here (hens) - where do you apply frontline - neck - like on cats and monthly - an also is it th whole pipette? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 I used Ivermectin drops (on the neck where they can't reach it). I used five drops for my normal LF but seven on my strapping Indian Game lad. I used Frontline spray (not drops) directly onto the affected area - bums! Neither licensed for poultry. I wouldn't have used either unless they actually had an infestation though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
