Nov 12, 2015 15:23:52 GMT
billy83
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 4 
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Post by billy83 on Nov 12, 2015 15:44:22 GMT
Hi everyone, I'm at my wits end with this problem which has now spread to a number of birds. Basically something is eating away the feathers in dead-straight lines just as if you've taken a pair of scissors and cut a chunk out. Although these are bantams I thought someone on here may have seen it on their budge. I've added a photo - could this be some sort of mite? I treated the birds with a general louse / mite powder which didn't have any effect. I got some Frontline and gave them two sprays to some bare skin at the back of the neck but this hasn't worked either.  If anyone has some information that would be great, Billy |
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Post by ffiscool on Nov 12, 2015 17:08:11 GMT
oh dear, I don't know but someone on here, should... hope you get to the bottom of it. if it is mites, you need Ivermectin
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Post by OP on Nov 12, 2015 17:13:44 GMT
Is it possible the feathers are getting caught in something. The edge looks too neat to have been bitten by anything.
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Post by Shirls on Nov 12, 2015 17:14:46 GMT
billy83 - have you joined the Backyard Chicken forum?? They are so friendly and helpful on there, (just like our budgie friends on here). Someone will get back to your question more or less straight away. They have been a great help to me and my chickens and continually are, there is always something I have to ask them. Also The Chicken Chic website is very informative. Have you checked the chooks vents at all, mites/lice usually convene round there too, starlingqueen on here may be able to advise you too as she has chooks. Good luck, I hope it gets sorted quickly for you.
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Post by Shirls on Nov 12, 2015 17:16:54 GMT
billy83 - you may want to put your chicken post/s in the 'Other Birds and Pets' section. 
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Post by starlingqueen on Nov 12, 2015 17:47:49 GMT
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Nov 12, 2015 15:23:52 GMT
billy83
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 4
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Post by billy83 on Nov 12, 2015 20:28:21 GMT
Wow thank you for so many replies. I tried joining Backyard Chickens but they won't accept signing up with an Outlook email address so I didn't bother, but maybe I will get another email and try again.
I do have some ivermectin here, I was just thinking I'll give them two drops on the back of the neck tomorrow - Starlingqueen is that how you dosed yours?
Shirls I will do that now thank you.
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Nov 12, 2015 15:23:52 GMT
billy83
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 4
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Post by billy83 on Nov 12, 2015 20:30:52 GMT
I think ivermectin is looking like the best solution but am trying to find out as much as I can before applying it.
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Nov 12, 2015 20:31:42 GMT
Hi billy83 I moved your post to the other birds and pets section. I hope you get the problem sorted soon. |
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Post by starlingqueen on Nov 12, 2015 21:31:14 GMT
I do have some ivermectin here, I was just thinking I'll give them two drops on the back of the neck tomorrow - Starlingqueen is that how you dosed yours? Yes that's exactly what I did.,part the feathers and put it directly on the skin. I waited until the big girls were settled down for the night and sneaked in so they were dopey. The bantams are no trouble though. |
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Nov 12, 2015 15:23:52 GMT
billy83
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 4
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Post by billy83 on Nov 15, 2015 11:46:21 GMT
Hi again everyone, OK these feathers pictured are from a bird who is alone with no others in the same pen. It's wooden so there are no areas where they can be "catching" and breaking the feathers. I've looked at various times of the day and night and there are definitely no visible lice / mites on the feathers (even in the dark using a torch).  Could it be some sort of deficiency? Or outside factor? They get a very mixed diet of layers pellets, mixed corn (maize, wheat) and greens every now and then. They're housed on sawdust and shavings and kept clean. Drinking water is changed every day / two days max. I'm getting really down because I just can't seem to work out the problem |
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Post by starlingqueen on Nov 15, 2015 12:20:26 GMT
The lines on the feathers are stress lines. These are caused when the bird has some sort of physical stress to the body. Maybe a period of illness, lack of water, poor diet etc, even a scare from a fox or other animal can cause the lines, a bit like a trees rings, you can tell wet and dry seasons from the size of the rings. These stress lines weaken the feather and they break off. So the lines you are seeing are from stress caused to the bird some time ago when the feather was being formed. When did you get the birds? This could have happened before you even had them. If there has been no further stress in their lives, when they moult out these feathers the problem should be solved.
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Post by starlingqueen on Nov 15, 2015 12:34:44 GMT
Oh and can I just ask, why is the bird alone? That can cause stress as they are flock birds.
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Post by OP on Nov 15, 2015 12:38:10 GMT
Has this bird had a full moult since you got it?
Are these feathers appearing daily, weekly?
I know nothing about bantams or chickens in general, but I love a good puzzle.
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Post by Shirls on Nov 15, 2015 14:50:42 GMT
Oh and can I just ask, why is the bird alone? That can cause stress as they are flock birds. My question too Wendy.  It may have been separated because of the problem?? |
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It may have been separated because of the problem??