Feather loss around face

[LalaP]

Hello again, it’s embarrassing how often I post with chicken questions. I’d be lost without this community so thank you in advance!
2 of my 4 Australorps (10 month old) are losing feathers around their faces. I checked them for mites today and didn’t see anything? Could it be favus? Something else?

They are on layer feed and have oyster shell free choice. All are laying.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Look them over for lice/mites, observe flock interactions especially during roosting and if you have a rooster - well, likely some of the damage is from him.

No. It does not look like favus. If you are referring to the white on the earlobe, that is color leakage.

 

[LalaP]

Thank you for your reply. I don’t have a rooster and I did check them for mites/lice. There is a camera in their coop and I see them jockeying for position and pecking each other before settling into the roost for the night. Do you think they are losing the feathers in these scuffles?

 

[AprilsZoo]

No need for embarrassment... questions are good! It’s how we all learn. I’ve even learned things when I’ve been corrected about an answer I‘ve given. So ask away. Soon enough, you’ll be the one giving the answers to someone.

I assume neither hen is queen of the coop? The pecking that you are witnessing— when it happens, are they getting pecked on the face? Or just random jabs wherever? If most of what you witness is on the face, then I’d say you have your answer.

That said, lice & mites can be tough to see. Some people say they’re easiest to find in their “armpits”... i.e. under the wings. My friend swears the easiest place to see them is on their back, between the wings. I think you just have to be thorough, and make sure you check everyone in the flock. But if you find them on one, you have to treat them all. Dusting them with DE might help, but it‘s not always effective. I look at it as just a single tool in the toolbox. But just you can‘t use a single screwdriver to fix everything, you can’t count on DE alone to be 100% effective.

Here’s an article you might find helpful— Mites & Lice

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you for your reply. I don’t have a rooster and I did check them for mites/lice. There is a camera in their coop and I see them jockeying for position and pecking each other before settling into the roost for the night. Do you think they are losing the feathers in these scuffles?

Could be losing feathers in roosting scuffles.

 

[LalaP]

No need for embarrassment... questions are good! It’s how we all learn. I’ve even learned things when I’ve been corrected about an answer I‘ve given. So ask away. Soon enough, you’ll be the one giving the answers to someone.

I assume neither hen is queen of the coop? The pecking that you are witnessing— when it happens, are they getting pecked on the face? Or just random jabs wherever? If most of what you witness is on the face, then I’d say you have your answer.

That said, lice & mites can be tough to see. Some people say they’re easiest to find in their “armpits”... i.e. under the wings. My friend swears the easiest place to see them is on their back, between the wings. I think you just have to be thorough, and make sure you check everyone in the flock. But if you find them on one, you have to treat them all. Dusting them with DE might help, but it‘s not always effective. I look at it as just a single tool in the toolbox. But just you can‘t use a single screwdriver to fix everything, you can’t count on DE alone to be 100% effective.

Here’s an article you might find helpful— Mites & Lice

Thank you so much for your reply. So I think you guys are right about the roost scuffles being the issue. The pecks are often aimed at the face and these 2 balding girls are not top hen. That said I’ll do another lice/mites check and dig deeper into those wing pits. Much appreciated!

 

[SMoos]

Thank you for your reply. I don’t have a rooster and I did check them for mites/lice. There is a camera in their coop and I see them jockeying for position and pecking each other before settling into the roost for the night. Do you think they are losing the feathers in these scuffles?

Do they still have facial loss of feathers ?
Mine are are also losing facial feathers!!!
No mites, gentle roosters, ...
Why ?