Does ANYONE know what's happening?

[Peytons Poultry]

None of those things seemed to match up with my chickens environment, but thank you for the suggestions! No other chickens have gotten a bald spot since my post, but I still don't know how this could have happened...

 

[Cluckies]

Hmm, so weird. You may want to pick up some hen saddles just to keep them covered for a while. I had a hen that was getting picked on and picked her up a saddle from here:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/190487..._language=en&gclid=COKx4NKQ78ICFYNAaQodEwIAdQ

Great quality, and you can put in the comments what kind of color you want and she does a great job finding one to match the color you want.

 

[Peytons Poultry]

Thanks! : )

 

[justplainbatty]

Nope, all the chickens have molted for the year. I have noticed no picking, and I'm outside with them a lot. The feathers are very clean cut, which is strange

Double molts can and do happen, no big deal. Just give a bit of extra protein, watch egg output. Everything should be fine in a few weeks.

 

[Cluckies]

Double molts can and do happen, no big deal. Just give a bit of extra protein, watch egg output. Everything should be fine in a few weeks.

Good to know! I hadn't heard of a double molt...

 

[Peytons Poultry]

So the situation has only gotten worse since I last posted, more feathers are missing and very clean cut. Not caused by picking, insects on the hens, rubing, mating or any of that. I really have no idea what to do, and some of my show birds have this going on too so they aren't show worthy anymore. Has anyone dealt with this before? What is it?!

 

[TalkALittle]

Do you have mice in the coop? I've heard of mice chewing the feathers of chickens while they sleep. If it is true and this is what is happening to your hens, it would explain the very clean cuts to the feather shafts. Do you have a game cam you can set up to see what's happening in the coop during the night?

 

[Cluckies]

I would swear that looks like feather picking, but If you are sure that is not it, I do not know... craziness.

Here is a thread that is 4 pages long, the second or third thread down mentions the possibility of fungus? Here is the thread Also on the last page a lady mentioned hers had mites, but she could not see them. she only saw them on a little baby chick that became very ill and died. that is how she found out about the mites.

here is an article from tilly's nest. Sorry I can't help more

 

[Peytons Poultry]

Thanks, I'm going to deep clean the coop and chickens to make sure it isn't a parasite. It's just so strange, and it happens overnight too. The hen in the picture was fine yesterday morning and when I locked them up tonight her feathers looked like that

 

[Peytons Poultry]

Do you have mice in the coop?  I've heard of mice chewing the feathers of chickens while they sleep.  If it is true and this is what is happening to your hens, it would explain the very clean cuts to the feather shafts.  Do you have a game cam you can set up to see what's happening in the coop during the night?

I haven't seen signs of mice, especially since my coop is raised. No droppings or anything. I don't own a recording camera