scratching at feathers??

[Hennyhandler]

I have a couple of chickens that have slightly or all the way bald spot right above their tails. I thought this was the rooster overmating

them. But at night when I go in to the coop and they're on the roost some of them will turn around and rub at the area. I know that when they run a feather throught their beaks they may be preening but I worried that it may be a bug of some kind. I have looked and haven't seen anything.
Then I thought well the feather there or that may be coming in may itch and that's why they're doing that or then agian maybe I'm reading more into this than I should.

Any past experiences or advice would be appreciated.

Also, I do have saddles and am planning on putting them on tomorrow just in case. (This also hasn't just occured.)

 

[CoopCrazy]

Have you dusted them for mites lately.. It was very hard for me to find mites on my beds when that was happening to me.. I went ahead and dusted everyone and two weeks later they were growing feathers back..

 

[parmesan]

What do you dust them with?

 

[Hennyhandler]

I was wondering the same thing. Are you having this problem too or just curious?

 

[parmesan]

yes, with the bully of the group. At first I thought it was the rooster, but today its raining and I got a better look at the area and I saw her do it. I didn't notice any mites, but I couldn't really catch her to pick her up.

I feel as if dusting them might be a good precautionary thing to do when the rain stops. Would this hurt them if they don't need it?