Chicken Feather Disease

[LaFleche]

As already mentioned before, chicken vary in feather quality which is partially due to genetics, feed, weather, abrasion and husbandry conditions.

What kind of feeder do you use? The abrasion seen in the front and lower front neck might result from sticking their head through the fence to reach something alluring on the other side. Or it can result from the use of sharp-edged metal feeders or waterers.

The otherwise broken feathers could be a result of genetics and abrasion combined. What are the dimensions of your chicken door, do they have ample space to and fro or do they rather have to squeeze through? And is it a soft coated or rather sharp-edged frame which might harm the feathers while doing so? The same implies for the nest boxes.

What really made me suspicious of mites is this:

at first it starts with feathers that look wet, even though they are not wet

 

[LaFleche]

It might help to know where (country and climate) your chickens live to determine the native parasites coming into consideration.

 

[azhnasa]

Did you inspect them for lice and/or mites as LaFleche mentioned?

Hi,
Yes, I did inspect them but did not find anything. It is hard to take picture of the feather root with one hand, but I inspected between their feathers and did not find anything unusual.

 

[azhnasa]

As already mentioned before, chicken vary in feather quality which is partially due to genetics, feed, weather, abrasion and husbandry conditions.

What kind of feeder do you use? The abrasion seen in the front and lower front neck might result from sticking their head through the fence to reach something alluring on the other side. Or it can result from the use of sharp-edged metal feeders or waterers.

The otherwise broken feathers could be a result of genetics and abrasion combined. What are the dimensions of your chicken door, do they have ample space to and fro or do they rather have to squeeze through? And is it a soft coated or rather sharp-edged frame which might harm the feathers while doing so? The same implies for the nest boxes.

What really made me suspicious of mites is this:

Thank you LaFleche,
I live in San Francisco area. I use a big flat open plastic container as feeder. It is roughly 2 feet by 2 feet. There is nothing sharp around them to injure them. The chicken coop door ( where they sleep at night ) is 2 feet wide by 4 feet tall. The nest box and the coop is made out of wood and there is nothing there to harm the hens. All with normal edges. My best guess is some sort of a disease, but I don't know what it can be.

 

[Mo'sMenagerie]

1000 sqft of space may not be quite enough for them depending on the breed. But I agree with getting them on grower feed with higher protein. It really makes a big difference. And bring sure to keep a a tray with oyster shell for them so they can supplement their calcium.

I had a similar issue with my americauna a year ago. I swore it was mites but turned out it wasn't. Once I switched her to a higher protein diet, and she finally had her first molt, her feathers came back much better. I still think she has poor genetics for feathers though. Check out the thread and good luck! https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/taking-floki-to-the-vet-things-i-should-ask-for.1324592/