chicken sort of bald underneath top feathers...?

[dandycandyjellybean]

Mentioned this on my neighbours mites thread, but am getting more concerned about it. Young amber with badly 'trimmed' beak, probably half the length it ought to be and very blunt and square at the end. I am assuming that these two things are related as she perhaps cannot preen. She has no downy underfeathers at all and the feathers that are there underneath are not fluffed out but just clumped around the main feather stem. We are worried that she is going to freeze to death! Would bringing her home and bathing her regularly help? Really at a loss and quite worried.

She will succumb to the cold if she can't preen herself. I don't know whether bathing will help as you'd have to make sure she's perfectly dry before allowing her back out. Birds can withstand the cold, but not wet/damp very well.

tbh, I don't think she will be able to live a healthy life in that condition. Would you consider putting her to sleep?

Just to up date, have treated them with an organophospate, which isn't ideal but wanted rid. Ivermectin i think its called and it's only licensed for pigeons, but can be used on poultry if on prescription. Got it on internet, dosed em and it looks like we've cracked it. Obviously being meticulous about cleanliness, powdering, spraying other stuff etc. Anyway, looked today and her feathers definately looked better underneath, more fluffed out and fluffy. Guess the mites were bothering her. Thanks anyway hiddenhome, with any luck she will be ok, but will keep updating.