Ducks and chickens are loosing feathers

[Duckychickymama27]

Hi,
My ducks and chickens are both losing feathers on their bottoms. For 5/7 of my chickens, their bottoms are totally bare and today, I just noticed that my one of my ducks, the pekin, is losing feathers on her bottom too. Is this normal? Or is this a mite or lice problem? If this isn't normal , what should I do about this?
Can someone please let me know what this is?
Thanks
P.S
Couldn't get good
Pictures of the chickens but here are two of them and my pekin(the first photo)

 

[fatty and friends]

no definitely not normal, can you post a picture of their set up? what do they eat?

 

[Duckychickymama27]

no definitely not normal, can you post a picture of their set up? what do they eat?

Thanks you for replying! Yes here is their set up and the food they eat. I have had chickens before for about 10 years and this has never happened before.

 

[KaleIAm]

My immediate thoughts go to overmating, external parasites, or perhaps nutrition deficiency. You are feeding them a commercial diet, however so I feel that is highly unlikely. If only one had it I might suggest self overgrooming, but that seems odd across species and multiple birds.

My rescue ducks had external parasites when I first got them. I couldn't see them, but the vet spotted them immediately by the base of the feathers. Different parasites have different characteristics, and I'm not familiar with them all. My vet had me treat with ivermectin.

 

[Duckychickymama27]

My immediate thoughts go to overmating, external parasites, or perhaps nutrition deficiency. You are feeding them a commercial diet, however so I feel that is highly unlikely. If only one had it I might suggest self overgrooming, but that seems odd across species and multiple birds.

My rescue ducks had external parasites when I first got them. I couldn't see them, but the vet spotted them immediately by the base of the feathers. Different parasites have different characteristics, and I'm not familiar with them all. My vet had me treat with ivermectin.

Thank you! It's definitely not overeating as they are all female, but external parasites might be it. I'll have to check with the vet soon.

 

[Isaac 0]

In the last two pictures, there appears to be dried blood, and several peck marks which would suggest there is some feather picking amongst the flock. Have you noticed such behavior at all?

Ectoparasites, specifically mites/lice can be ruled out by waiting till the birds go to roost, and with a flashlight check near their vent area, near the neck, and under the wings. Lice appear yellow/white, mites appear brown/red. If not ectoparasites, it's likely feather picking. That is most often due to boredom, or a feed lacking in protein.

 

[Duckychickymama27]

In the last two pictures, there appears to be dried blood, and several peck marks which would suggest there is some feather picking amongst the flock. Have you noticed such behavior at all?

Ectoparasites, specifically mites/lice can be ruled out by waiting till the birds go to roost, and with a flashlight check near their vent area, near the neck, and under the wings. Lice appear yellow/white, mites appear brown/red. If not ectoparasites, it's likely feather picking. That is most often due to boredom, or a feed lacking in protein.

Thank you! Could it be feather picking even though the majority of my birds have it? Or a combination between ectoparasites and feather picking? I have also noticed that the two chickens I have that don't have either don't lay at all or lay the least out of all the chickens so I don't know if that has anything to do with it?

 

[KaleIAm]

Thank you! Could it be feather picking even though the majority of my birds have it? Or a combination between ectoparasites and feather picking? I have also noticed that the two chickens I have that don't have either don't lay at all or lay the least out of all the chickens so I don't know if that has anything to do with it?

My understanding is that ectoparasites can feel irritating/itchy and so self feather picking can go along with the parasites.

 

[Duckychickymama27]

Thank you! It's definitely not overeating as they are all female, but external parasites might be it. I'll have to check with the vet soon.

Overmating* not overeating