Extreme feather loss

[TwentyOneChickens]

Hello
I’ve been cleaning out my chickens today and there was a lot of white feathers everywhere. One of my chickens has got extreme feather loss. See pics!
I’m not sure if it’s from molting, feather plucking, boredom, mites or Illness.

Some of my other chickens have also lost feathers around their vents. I have 6 chickens in a good sized enclosure. One bluebell, 3 Rhode Island and 2 white brahmas (I think, they were given to us) Any advice or suggestions would be great.
I’m spraying some feather plucking spray on them to try help and I can’t see any mites. Please Help!!!

I am like 95% sure that it's just molting. It's the season for molting, and it looks like it to me!

I'd just keep us posted on any other possible symptoms.

 

[Sequel]

Hi there! Welcome to BYC! You have been given great advice! Best of luck to you and your flock!

 

[Nataliec1006]

Do they have the entire day out in the garden? The aviary (aka run here in the States) is too small for 6 LF chickens.
The aviary seems like it has lots of things in it, it's just not big enough.
Permethrin is good for treating both lice and mites on the birds and the coop.

hi, yes we let them out in the morning and put them in at night.
we do have a hen that plucks, I’ve watched her do it. So I’m trying to
Combat that with the spray.

I will boost the protein intake and get some lice treatment.
Some of my hens do have feather loss around their vents. Some of this is molting but I also think it’s from my hen that’s plucking.

 

[DobieLover]

hi, yes we let them out in the morning and put them in at night.
we do have a hen that plucks, I’ve watched her do it. So I’m trying to
Combat that with the spray.

I will boost the protein intake and get some lice treatment.
Some of my hens do have feather loss around their vents. Some of this is molting but I also think it’s from my hen that’s plucking.

What is the percentage on the protein you are feeding them? Shoot for something between 18 and 20%. Keep the treats to a bare minimum. That will help with the feather picking and the moulting.

 

[dawg53]

hi, yes we let them out in the morning and put them in at night.
we do have a hen that plucks, I’ve watched her do it. So I’m trying to
Combat that with the spray.

I will boost the protein intake and get some lice treatment.
Some of my hens do have feather loss around their vents. Some of this is molting but I also think it’s from my hen that’s plucking.

Feather pickers are bad news, just like an egg eater. Others will copy cat the feather picker. You can give them gamebird feed which is higher in protein. Then wean them off the gamebird feed a month later back to regular feed. Another option is to isolate the feather picker away from the flock out of sight for two weeks, then reintroduce her. She will be picked on by the others and end up at the bottom of the pecking order preventing any further feather picking. If she goes right back to feather picking, get rid of her or cull.