can someone link or upload pics of broken feathers vs molting feathers?

[ladyearth]

also is more "dander" on the roost mean broken feathers.?. versus molting feather loss....
so I can see the differnces....

 

[JanetS]

A molting chicken usually has a lot of "dander".

Molting White Leghorn.

 

[aart]

The 'dander' comes from new feathers growing in.
They are covered in a 'sheath' that the bird preens off a little at a time as the feather grow longer.

Broken feathers will look, um, broken....molted feathers might be a little messy but whole and will be on the floor or ground or wherever they land.

Lots of pics here https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/580915/for-the-new-folks-that-havent-experienced-a-molt-yet

 

[ladyearth]

But I cant see where she is losing any feathers on her neck or head or upper chest..... etc....
I cant tell by this pic.. would be nice to see a closeup of an actual feathers....
Like I mentioned in another post are broken feathers from those terrible microscopic mites suppose to be the whole thing with that end on it that goes to the skin ????
. in other word does molting on a chicken make it look like she has been plucked....? and with broken feather isn't part of the feather left on the chicken? see I don't know what to look for on my chickens. cause Baby Girl was all red on her belly and thighs....
I soaked her the other day in Metaflex and a little of food grade sulfur.... she actually did not mind a whole lot prob cause she was so miserable.
She has been hanging by herself and not Spritey. She is only i and half years old. I raised her from a chick... She has lost weight too... she acts like shes old now... slow etc .
The other nite I went out and powdered puff them as best as I could on their feathers and under wings and neck with garden 90 percent sulfur. It was fro Ortho. in a sprinkle type can....
Plus I am closely watching their leg scales... looks a little bit raised. so I am going to add to the Vaseline sulfur.. like a fellow member does and put it on roost both sides AND their legs and thighs....
I know something is going on cause My previous set of 2yr olds( when obtained) Orps had scaly legs. I was a newbie and didn't understand.. But I gave them away... prob should not have, But that set fought (gorgeous Orp Roo)with my(raised from baby Barr Rock)Roo.
That coop is made inside from old fencing.... with many many places for mites etc to hide....... and its real close to the ground.... with a new pine boards for flooring.....
thanks all as I dont want my flock to suffer

 

[JanetS]

How old is she? Chickens are starting to molt at this time of the year. It takes a lot of their energy to grow back their feather so they can become a little lethargic. Can you post a picture of her? This would be helpful. Here's another picture of my leghorn last fall. She had a very heavy molt. Her new feather are growing back in this picture.

 

[ladyearth]

when you say whole do you mean with the whole completes shaft? thanks