Chicken’s feathers growing too close together? Really weird

[Elraishem]

I’ve just started raising my first flock of chickens, and I have a 3-mo australorp named Merle whose feathers are growing too close together. She’s had a “fan” between her shoulder blades since her adult feathers started coming in. Upon closer inspection I found that she has some sort of skin flap and an area slightly smaller than a nickel where her feathers are packed in very tightly and don’t seem to be molting. The cluster is growing straight up/forward and they tend to be turned sideways, and the individual feathers seem to be weak (I put very little pressure on them for the photo). I have no idea what’s going on or how to treat it, I would love some advice!

 

[HappyClucker7]

That's so strange! I've never seen anything like that.
@Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive @Overo Mare

 

[Painted Calls]

That is strange. @casportpony come check this out.

 

[Elraishem]

That's so strange! I've never seen anything like that.
@Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive @Overo Mare

Google didn’t know either I can’t find anything that isn’t about losing too many feathers or not growing them in...

I figure it might be some kind of genetic mutation? Idk if I should pluck some of them to avoid ingrown feathers and cysts with the stress on the area or if that’s something to be completely avoided/ that will make it worse. There’s literally no space between the shafts!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I figure it might be some kind of genetic mutation? Idk if I should pluck some of them to avoid ingrown feathers and cysts with the stress on the area or if that’s something to be completely avoided/ that will make it worse. There’s literally no space between the shafts!

I've never seen that before even in photos.
I'll tag in @Eggcessive @dawg53 and @coach723
Does it seem to bother her?

I'm not sure if you should pluck some out of there or not - I too wonder if there's more under there that may turn into impacted feather follicles or a cyst. We aren't vets here so use your best judgment on that.

 

[Elraishem]

I've never seen that before even in photos.
I'll tag in @Eggcessive @dawg53 and @coach723
Does it seem to bother her?

I'm not sure if you should pluck some out of there or not - I too wonder if there's more under there that may turn into impacted feather follicles or a cyst. We aren't vets here so use your best judgment on that.

It seems to be a little itchy (she lets me hold her wings and scratch down between the feathers without trying to squeak out and hop up onto my shoulders) but overall she seems relatively unencumbered. It’s even kind of cute, like a little fan on her back

as for the feathers, I gently tested some and the pin feathers come out surprisingly easy (like when you have an infected hair follicle) while the developed ones are rock solid. The long term health effects are definitely my biggest concern with it.

 

[Painted Calls]

I too would be suspicious of impacted follicles.

I wonder what it looks like down in there under the feathers. And how deep it is.

 

[Elraishem]

I too would be suspicious of impacted follicles.

I wonder what it looks like down in there under the feathers. And how deep it is.

I can try to get a better look tomorrow and try to take a video to show you, sweet baby Merle is asleep right now. She’s been totally healthy otherwise, even when a couple of her sisters got a lil stomach thing.

 

[Elraishem]

@Overo Mare @Wyorp Rock @HappyClucker7

Here she is! I still can’t see or feel down into the very middle but I should have estimated *between* half a centimeter and a centimeter.

 

[HappyClucker7]

@Overo Mare @Wyorp Rock @HappyClucker7

Here she is! I still can’t see or feel down into the very middle but I should have estimated *between* half a centimeter and a centimeter.

That's so weird! @casportpony, have you ever seen this before?