[in the hills]

A couple of our hens have developed a strange look to their faces. The skin on their faces looks dry, maybe even a little scaly or flaky.

One is a grower (Friesian x RIR) and the other a rather old Friesian.

Both appear well. Eating, drinking, flying!!!!! and free ranging as normal. They live in separate coops but do free range together. Their faces are pale but the Friesian has looked that way for a long time and is not laying anymore and the grower hasn't reddened up yet. The grower has some small scratches on her face as though she could have been scratching or rubbing her face. Guessing that is due to irritation or itchiness.

Any ideas?  How do I treat?  Could it be a type of mite?  We have volumes of wild birds and pheasants at the moment so could they have brought something in?

[chrismahon]

We had a scaly and slightly puffy faced Cream legbar a few years back. Never found out why, but the suggestion of an application of E45 cream did the trick. Whether that was co-incidence or not I don't know In The Hills?

[in the hills]

Thank you Chrismahon.

Their faces do seem very slightly 'puffy'. Have applied some E45 as you suggest and will continue with that for a while. Hopefully it will do the trick.

Thanks.