Feather loss on mid back

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RanchRichey

RanchRichey

Songster
Apr 16, 2016
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Any ideas to help this poor chicken. Just noticed this over the past few days.

14 week old EE
We don't have any roosters, she has always seemed to be one of our dominant birds, so I don't think the others are picking, only one spot, so likely not molting, maybe picking herself?

Overcrowding?
We have currently have 8 pullets from 12-14 weeks in a 60 sq foot run with free ranging most days. The coop is a little small, 15 sq feet. We are planning to reduce the flock to 4-6 once they start laying, but may need to do it sooner?

Heat stress/molting?

No other affected chickens so far.

400

400
 
It kind of looks like picking. I had that issue with a Polish rooster's crest when I first started out. I would go ahead and give the coop and run a look over for predators in the area. Stressed birds will pick. If you don't already, add a hard wire skirt around the run of the coop and run and up a few feet to put more layers between the birds and predators.
 
I gave everything a pretty good once over today. No predator problems that we know of as we are pretty urban, at most we have raccoons and opossums, and I haven't seen or heard evidence of either near the coop. And yes, we have the hardware cloth wrapped, buried and bricked.

We have had a pretty extreme heat wave topping out at 113 and now our idiot neighbors have been setting off fireworks for the past few days. So I'm thinking maybe stress from those factors or overcrowding. I might give it another few days to see if things improve after the 4th and now that the heat wave is over. If not we will have to decide which 4-6 birds to keep and give the other 2 up ASAP.
 
I have the same problem with my roo but his look worst cause it has a blood crust. I am really worried to get infected. He is picking a lot so I don't know what to do cause he doesn't stop. So he doesn't let it heal. A few days ago he had mites and I treated with poultry protector and I thought he didn't have anymore cause I don't see any in his skin but I just check during the day. Do you know what can I do to make sure he doesn't have anymore?
 
I have a roo and he has the same problem. He is picking a lot his mid back and I don't know how to make it stop and now I am afraid it's infected. What can I do?
 
Whittni said:
It kind of looks like picking. I had that issue with a Polish rooster's crest when I first started out. I would go ahead and give the coop and run a look over for predators in the area. Stressed birds will pick. If you don't already, add a hard wire skirt around the run of the coop and run and up a few feet to put more layers between the birds and predators. 
Click to expand...

I have the same problem. My roo is picking a lot his mid back and he has a blood crust. He had mites a few days ago but I don't know if he still have. How can I know? I use poultry protector
 
I have a roo and it has the same problem. How do I make it stop picking his mid back?
I don't know how do I know if he has mites,I am new at this.
 
Last edited:
18palm said:
I have the same problem. My roo is picking a lot his mid back and he has a blood crust. He had mites a few days ago but I don't know if he still have. How can I know? I use poultry protector
Click to expand...


He needs separation from the other birds until he heals. You can use a loose pony tail holder on his crest so he can see a little better (just don't put it on too tight)
 

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