Could it be Lice?

[LittleCinna]

Hey guys, I have a question for you about lice. How common is it for 1 hen having lice out of your flock?

I have a hen that suddenly lost and looks like she had broken top feathers along her mid back to the base of her tail. She still has plenty of fluffy down. It happened about 2-3 weeks ago and hasn’t gotten better but hasn’t worse. At first I thought it was because she was soaked in mud one day but thinking it could be lice now. I tried examining her and didn’t see anything obviously lice but I can’t think of anything else, I just find it weird that it’s only one hen.

Anyone have any thoughts on what it could be? Should I treat for lice anyways? I was I had pictures but didn’t think of it.

 

[HollyWoozle]

Can you try going into your coop at night and looking between her feathers whilst shining a torch? In my experience you will see any wriggly lice pretty quickly that way!

 

[coach723]

It's also possible that this hen is getting feather picked by one or more others in the flock.
Pictures might help. How many birds do you have in how much space?