Feather loss, only quils remaining?

[Yorkshire Coop]

I have a frizzle polish that is experiencing some feather loss. She is 14 months old. In general happy and healthy and she is the only one experiencing this in her flock. Her feathers are missing as such and she only has quils remaining. I have checked for mites and lice and can see non present. I've had a good root through her and can find no evidence of parasite. She is wormed regular has a dust bath containing top soil, sand and DE earth. I also dust my birds regular too. I have also not seen evidence of pecking from the other flock members. Everyone gets on well in their flock.

I'm at a loss as what to do for her next. Any thoughts would be very much appreciated. Thank you.

 

[MrsBrooke]

Is it possible she's molting?

Silly question, perhaps, but she's the right age, and it's about that time.

Shy of that, I have no idea!

MrsB

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Thank you for your reply. I have thought that too and I'm hoping it is just that. She has progressively got worse over a few weeks right now. We are in summer over here in the UK or should I say it's meant to be summer!! At first I thought it was overbreeding from the roo as one of her flock mates went broody and I removed her. So the roo had one less lady in with him. She is a very dainty little girl. I have found him a new home and he is going in about three weeks so I'm hoping that will help too. He has been losing a few feathers come to think of it but full feathers and you can hardly tell on him.

I think I may try ivermectin drop on her and see what happens just incase. I've not used ivermectin drops on my birds before so if any one has please chime in.
Also put her on some higher protein game feed to see if that will help.

 

[MrsBrooke]

Ah, I don't know about molting season in the UK. If it's molt time there, then I would say that's probably what it is, if you have ruled out parasites and other chickens picking on her.

I know that Polish can be the bottom of the pecking order in a mixed flock, since they have such wild hair styles.

MrsB

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Bit early for molt over here yet. Maybe an early one? She is in with all polish but she is the only frizzle one. Frizzle feathers attracting unwanted attention but in the coop when I'm not spying on them? Maybe.

 

[Butterfly145]

My polish look like that when I have a feather picker. But they usually peck when they go up at night. Maybe put some blu - kote on that spot.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

any chance she is a frazzle ? Mom and dad frizzled ? or dad frizzled and mom carry's the frizzle gene ? Like, her mom or dad was frizzled ?

 

[TwoCrows]

That looks pretty high on the neck for her to be plucking them. Are the feathers actually plucked or are they chewed off? If these were quill mites, the bird might chew the feathers off and not necessarily pluck them out.

I think the others may be curious about her frizzly feathers and she may be being plucked.

 

[rides2far]

My son's rooster leaves the same marks on his hens' necks. If it clears up after being separated from the roo, that might have been the problem. Good luck, she's very pretty.

 

[TwoCrows]

My son's rooster leaves the same marks on his hens' necks. If it clears up after being separated from the roo, that might have been the problem. Good luck, she's very pretty.

Another great idea as well! If she is not being plucked by an aggressive hen, she may be losing them to the roo mating her.