Do our hens have mites?

[Gene McCarthy]

Our six hens are about 18 months old. They reside in a clean sand-filled covered 10x20 enclosed run with a free standing coop inside. They have gone through their first molt evidenced by what appeared to be a pillow fight. They did not lose as many feathers as I expected. Now it is late July and they looking worse than ever. Some patches of skin showing and no indication of regrowth. One of our Rhode Island Reds is getting thin and tufts of white feathers are randomly growing. I thought she was being hen picked so we placed a saddle on her to cover the bare (red) spots. Thinking we may have mites I dusted the coop and run with Diatomaceous soil. So far no noticeable affect. They all seem to be happy. They are eating greatly high quality Purina feed and they consume lots of water. The six hens are laying about one per hen per day. They just don’t seem to fatten up or regrow lost feathers. Any suggestions? thank you for any help you might provide.

 

[azygous]

Are these little ladies all currently laying?

How long ago did the "pillow fight" occur? How long did it last?

DE won't kill a mite infestation. It will only make the mites feel cozier in their habitat. You need a poultry dusting powder, permethrin powder or liquid spray or spinosad biological control.

I've noticed two adult hens in my flock have begun fall molt already. I have five near POL pullets molting like mad, feathers everywhere for weeks. So yours could be getting ready to do their first real molt, too.

 

[azygous]

I need to clarify my previous post about my POL pullets molting. They've been in an extended juvenile molt, at least two months, but they have not had their first real molt yet. That likely won't happen until fall of 2020.

Juvenile molt usually doesn't produce areas of baldness as senior molts do, and my pullets have never shown any outward signs of juvenile molt other than conspicuous feather left everywhere they go.

Feather loss due to mites usually results in red irritated skin around the balding areas.

 

[Gene McCarthy]

Thank you all who responded. I will go to the feed store and purchase one of the products recommended and get back to you the results.

 

[kidcody]

Totally are with azygous! best of luck to you....

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Can you post some photos?