- Mar 22, 2011
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I have 26 chickens and almost half of them have feathers missing on their back. I read some threads here, talked to workers at the 3 local feed stores, and to several friends who raise chickens about what could be causing this. I got about half a dozen different suggestions (all valid) but I'm just not sure what it is. At first I thought it was the rooster but now I don't think I have one. I was supposed to have 1 but apparently I'm the only person to ever request a rooster and get a hen. Then we thought maybe the hens are pecking each other. While I do see them peck at each other every now and then, I don't think they peck enough to be causing this kind of feather lose. Then someone suggested that they might be fighting over a nesting box. Even though I have 10 boxes, I frequently find 10 eggs in one box. But again I don't see them fighting (although I don't spend a lot of time watching them). The latest thing is that they might have lice and are actually pulling some of the feathers off themselves trying to get the lice. I have seen a few of them peck at their bold spots but not very often. I did dust them once with Seven Dust and put out a little lime in the pen. They don't seem to be getting any better or worse. I would appreciate any advice. I can't seem to find the pics I took. I'll have to take some more tomorrow.