Broken feathers

[Aracoix]

So I purchased 8 hens last spring. 5 made it to the winter (Fox) and we got a pretty boy rooster who is very gentle with the ladies to protect them.

It was a pretty brutal winter in NH and a few of the ladies got frostbite on their combs and I noticed that they would stay inside the coop for weeks when it was very cold and/or fresh snow on the ground. It was during this time that I noticed some broken feathers and tufts missing on a few of the girls.

Of course, the silver laced Wyandotte decided to go broody during this time period too and ripped out all of her chest feathers. I attributed all of the feather loss from the girls being cooped up for an extended period of time.

It is now June and a few of the girls still look like they just got into a giant fight. It hasn’t gotten worse.. but it hasn’t gotten better. The two buff orpingtons did not loose any feathers and look great, the New Hampshire red has a few broken tail feathers, the golden comet has a giant tuft missing from her tail and the silver laced wynadotte looks like she goes out to the club every night and fights.

I’m starting to think maybe a disease of some type? Anyone have any ideas? The wyndotte went broody again and the first chick hatched this morning!

 

[Happy Henny]

So I purchased 8 hens last spring. 5 made it to the winter (Fox) and we got a pretty boy rooster who is very gentle with the ladies to protect them.

It was a pretty brutal winter in NH and a few of the ladies got frostbite on their combs and I noticed that they would stay inside the coop for weeks when it was very cold and/or fresh snow on the ground. It was during this time that I noticed some broken feathers and tufts missing on a few of the girls.

Of course, the silver laced Wyandotte decided to go broody during this time period too and ripped out all of her chest feathers. I attributed all of the feather loss from the girls being cooped up for an extended period of time.

It is now June and a few of the girls still look like they just got into a giant fight. It hasn’t gotten worse.. but it hasn’t gotten better. The two buff orpingtons did not loose any feathers and look great, the New Hampshire red has a few broken tail feathers, the golden comet has a giant tuft missing from her tail and the silver laced wynadotte looks like she goes out to the club every night and fights.

I’m starting to think maybe a disease of some type? Anyone have any ideas? The wyndotte went broody again and the first chick hatched this morning!

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I think maybe in the winter she got frostbite on her wings too and the feathers started to break off... maybe?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It was a pretty brutal winter in NH and a few of the ladies got frostbite on their combs and I noticed that they would stay inside the coop for weeks when it was very cold and/or fresh snow on the ground. It was during this time that I noticed some broken feathers and tufts missing on a few of the girls.

It is now June and a few of the girls still look like they just got into a giant fight. It hasn’t gotten worse.. but it hasn’t gotten better.

Congratulations on the chicks!
They were "cooped up" most of the winter...boredom and not getting outside, even if your coop is very large can cause some feather picking.

Damaged feathers are usually not replaced until a bird goes through their annual molt. Most birds molt in the fall.

Give them a good going over for any external parasites and see that everyone is eating/drinking well. Now is also the time to evaluate winter housing, if you need more roosting bars, need more room, need to add ventilation since you had a frostbite problem, need to add roofing to your run so they can come outside in winter, etc. Even in winter chickens will come outside for short periods of time if they have some protection from wind/snow and rain.

 

[Unexpected chicken lover]

the silver laced wynadotte looks like she goes out to the club every night and fights.


I'm sorry, but.....
Thank you and I apologize that that is all I have to contribute

 

[Wyorp Rock]

the silver laced wynadotte looks like she goes out to the club every night and fights.


I'm sorry, but.....
Thank you and I apologize that that is all I have to contribute

You may not be far from the truth! SLW I had always brawled at night on the roosting bars, does that count?

 

[chickens really]

They need to molt in the fall...
Then Feathered nice unless too crowded...

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Your hens are likely affected by de-plumbing mites or de-plumbing scabies. Scabies is a form of mite similar to the mites that are responsible for the mange in dogs or other mammals. The best proceadure is to use a mixture of Permethrin and water to either spray your chickens with or else to dip your birds in.

The picture below was taken using an electron microscope so forget about looking for these evil critters with your naked eyes. There seems to be at least 7 scabies living in just this one feather follicle.

https://wagwalking.com/bird/condition/depluming-scabies