Easter Egger Losing Back Feathers

[Coturnix Quail]

So I have nine 1 yr old hens and recently (by recently I mean roughly a couple months ago) I noticed my Easter was losing her back feathers and it has just gotten worse. She is also losing some shoulder feathers. BTW my flock is made up of hens, so no roosters (or so I think?) Sometimes the skin looked red and irritated and they look like they were chewed off?? I’ve done my research and I think mites or lice and a certain type (I forgot which!) But the strange thing is I’ve examined them closely and haven’t seen any insects or eggs on her. Also only like 2 other chickens have some feathers that they lost but it’s not nearly as bad. I’ve heard about DE (diatomaceous earth) and was wondering if I should dust them once in a while? They’re both on the back like Easter’s. Also on a completely irrelevant topic, my so called RIR “hen” mates with some of the other girls, but it doesn’t crow or show any other rooster behavior besides biting me perhaps playfully? For any advice TIA

 

[Valhalla Acres]

I also have easter eggers and have had this problem. I found it to be mites. The number one spot I find them is by the vent. I know you said you checked them for bugs, but I would dust them every 7 days (7 days cause that is the life cycle of mites/lice to my knowledge). If that does not work than they might be stressed out. I don't know a lot about stressed chickens but I've heard from other breeders that stressed chickens loose feathers. If you are unsure about roos in your flock you can check for sex feathers (sharp feathers on the saddle of the chicken). I wish you luck with your chickens

 

[Coturnix Quail]

I don’t find a reason she would be stressed? I will buy de then, but should I dust everybody, just the ones losing feathers, or just her? I checked her vent once - other chickens too but didn’t find anything.. Are they super tiny? Thanks so much for the quick reply I really appreciate it

 

[Valhalla Acres]

I don’t find a reason she would be stressed? I will buy de then, but should I dust everybody, just the ones losing feathers, or just her? I checked her vent once - other chickens too but didn’t find anything.. Are they super tiny? Thanks so much for the quick reply I really appreciate it

The lice are incredibly hard to see for me. They are little white/light brown dots. The mites are a little easier to see. They are long and usually brown. I would dust the ones losing feathers than sprinkle the dust on the ground of the cop with the other chickens to help prevent any mites. No problem with the quick reply, good luck!

 

[RWise]

This sounds like over mating to me, and I see it in my EEs. Some of them seem to think they must mate constantly, before and after each egg, and several more times each day. My oldest rooster caught on to this and would refuse them,,,,
Could a matriarch hen do it, maybe!

 

[Coturnix Quail]

Thanks guys. I'll dust her and some others then, and I don't think it is mating because the one doing the mating has lost some back feathers as well! Oh wow my hens are strange.