Chicken Memorials

[newcountrygirl]

Just been down to the henhouse and got a nasty shock. My lovely Polish frizzle Chicken Little had horrible marks on one of her wings. When I got her out to investigate i found that both wings were really badly scabbed and feathers missing. She was fine yesterday. It is right at the top of her wings where the wing meets the body like a shoulder. They were completely bald and a bloody mass. Some of the wings going further down were bare and just the feather shaft if you know what I mean.

 

She had nothing wrong at all yesterday. I have bathed them with warm water and dried them then put on gentian violet. Not sure what has caused this. Could she have some sort of lice or could one of the others have suddenly attacked her? Is there anything else I should do. I am really worried as I have never had anything like this happen before.

 

I have ordered some Columbine spray and am going to treat all of the girls in case of lice but I have just been down and had a look and couldnt see any signs on the other girls.

[mimi5]

Sorry haven't any advice didn't want to read and run!!! I guess have another look over your hen and watch the others with her?? Any clues in the coop...like feathers?? Hope you get to the bottom of it and your little one makes a full recovery!

[newcountrygirl]

Thanks Mimi5 I have kept going down to check on her. After i had bathed her and put gentian violet on yesterday she took herself into the coop and was sat on one of the perches for a while. Then she came out and was ok. I have checked her this morning and she was eating away merrily. I couldnt see any sign of lice on any of the others or her come to that but I suspect she has done this to herself so something must have been bothering her. I have ordered some columbine spray and am going to giver her and all the others a spray as soon as it arrive. I shall keep a close watch on her and treat her again with the gentian violet to promote healing. She is such a lovely girl it really upset me. Thanks for taking the time to answer. I was really upset yesterday and no-one came on to offer any advice.

[Daphne]

I'm sorry none of us responded to your query yesterday I'm guessing it was because what you describe is quite unusual and I don't suppose many of us know what to suggest to help.

 

It sound to me like there is an ongoing problem if she has scabs. It could be something like Northern Fowl Mite or Depluming mite rather than straightforward red mite which is less active at this time of year. If you haven't done this already then I would treat her and the coop with something good and strong to get rid of them - have a look on Google. Several of the best treatments, such as Ivermectin, are not licensed for poultry.

 

Is there any way a predator could have had a go at her, pulling a wing through some netting or something?

[newcountrygirl]

Thanks Daphne - no nothing has had a go. I am thinking it could be lice or something and she has done it to herself. I couldnt see anything but it is odd that its in the same place on both wings. She seems perky enough and I am going to spray her with columbine as soon as it arrives.

[heather999]

hi we had a problem like it and we bought a spray called scarper online it smells vile and tastes even worse but it really works we only had to spray her twice and it stopped them and her plucking her feathers out its about £15 but its well worth it

[newcountrygirl]

Thanks heather. I will bear this in mind. Keeping everything crossed. For the last two days she has remained unpecked and her skin is looking better. I put her in the dog crate in the run and she seems ok so far.