Feather Loss- Mystery to me! But is it to you? PHOTOS!

[GarrettWeezi]

Hello!

Unfortunately one of my five chickens is loosing feathers. I have spent time out observing them and have not noticed other chickens pecking on her nor have I seen her pecking on herself. She is missing feathers down to her down and it is start to expose the bases of her wings. No ticks or lice that I have been able to identify. Any suggestions of what it could be? The purple is from this peck no more stuff... but doesn't seem to help.





Thank you in advance!

 

[chicapee]

How old is she? She maybe starting her molt.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Do you have a rooster, or a hen acting like a rooster, those look like mating feather lose.

 

[GarrettWeezi]

@chicapee she is a year and three months old.

@oldhenlikesdogs I have no roosters. I don't have a hen acting like a rooster.

Thank you for your responses! It is worrying me. I don't want it to get worse or for her to go into the winter with no feathers!

 

[chicapee]

Many chickens start molting around this time of year. This is when they loose Feathers in preparation to grow their new pretty ones. If she has no other symptoms, this would be my best guess. You could increase protein in the feed which with help speed up new feather growth.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

then hopefully she's just molting, is she over a year old

 

[Ballerina Bird]

I'm new at this, but I think just over a year is basically molting age. Also, this is about the right time of year as the days get shorter -- mine are getting started, too. My chicken friend (who also currently has a hen in full molt) suggested Neutrena Feather Fixer to help them get through the molt. I just started mine on it, and they seem to like how it tastes. It has extra protein. FYI, your hen will also stop laying during her molt -- they can't make both feathers and eggs, since both require a lot of protein.

 

[aart]

Could be depluming mites....if it was a molt the feathers would be damaged, except for normal wear and tear, they just fall out.
Usually, the first full adult molt happens around 18 months old.

 

[GarrettWeezi]

Thank you all for your suggestions. The feathers seem to be damaged so it makes me believe it is not molting.... but I could be wrong. @aart how would I know it is deplumming mites?

 

[aart]

Thank you all for your suggestions. The feathers seem to be damaged so it makes me believe it is not molting.... but I could be wrong. @aart how would I know it is deplumming mites?

I think they are very hard to ID as they burrow into the skin and do not leave eggs(live birth) or feces on the skin to see, like lice and some other mites do, so I believe it's a matter of the process of elimination.

Inspect the bird closely for other pests by parting the feathers down to the skin around vent, head and neck and under wings. Best done at night well after dark, they are easier to catch and handle but you'll need a headlight and always easier if you have someone to help by holding the bird so you can use both hand to part feathers. Also some mites live in the coop structure, not on the bird full time, and only come out at night to feed.

At 15 months old she should be molting soon, unless you are using supplemental lighting for winter laying,
and they can survive fine thru the winter with bare backs, I've had several go thru it.