Feather loss, only quils remaining?

[Granny Hatchet]

Two Crows, My idea was pretty lame. She dont even look very frizzled. LOL I think you guys are right about the mating. BUT, seems to be some hair loss around the face ?? Is she supposed to be bearded ?

 

[MrsBrooke]

If that is directly on the back of her neck, it's the rooster.

MrsB

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

This is her last year ~

As you can see now she is very scruffy looking. Thanks for everyone's input. I'm going to separate her to see if it's the roo or another hen picking at her feathers. Going to ivermectin her too as some look totally plucked out but others just chewed off. A bit of both really.

 

[gibsterl]

I have one looking pretty mangy too like yours, neck and wing feather missing but with quills left, she is being picked on...I've seen it...is your getting picked on? Just a thought

 

[drumstick diva]

She is just too pretty to have this happen to her. I notice she is missing feathers on face. Do you think she is rubbing them off because of irritation or itching. Allergies??

 

[Granny Hatchet]

I thought thats what I seen Diva. I never thought about chickens having allergys.

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

I never thought of allergies, maybe pollen? Can chickens be allergic to pollen? That's about the only thing I can think of that has changed at all from last year. We have had high readings for a while. Had rain for last few days that kept it down but on the way back up now.

I'm thinking someone is feather pecking her, have been using anti peck and it's not getting worse so could be this. She has some new feathers coming in on her face, just a couple but it's a start

As soon as I've got room I'm moving her to her own coop and run for a while so she has chance to recover. Just waiting for them to come and pick 2 chicks up for a spare place for her. They should have gone by now

@granny hatchet She is not bearded, I think the beard got attached to her crest as she grew up!! Or at least it had when she had a lovely crest

Through all this though she has continued to lay regular, you would think with how shabby she looks she would not.

 

[MeckTheHen]

I've also got a feather-loss problem and would appreciate your views. This is my Australorp, Liquorice. Some background facts: she free-ranges with two other hens, no rooster, layer pellets as free choice, about three years old. And now her entire under-carriage is bare! She's been broody before and raised chicks, so I have seen breast plucking with her, but never like this! She's completely bare and what feathers are left are just a centimeter of quill, in a very distinct pattern (as you'll see in the photo). She's been like this for a few months now.

I've read it could be molting. It's the end of winter here so it is molt time: one of the others molted through winter (our winters don't get that cold) and the other is busy, but I don't think this is a molt ... there's no sign of pin feathers.

Self-plucking: possible, though I never see her do it or find black feathers. If it was, why would she be doing this?

Depluming mite: I though it might be this, but the vet did a skin swab and found no trace of mite. Also, I doubt mites would deplume in such a geometric way, with no loss on other parts of the body.

Protein deficiency: I'm giving her hard boiled egg now to see if this could be it.

What are your thoughts? Have you see feather loss like this before?

 

[MrsBrooke]

Wow! That's very unique.

Sorry for your mama's troubles... I have no idea what this could be short of a very serious broody. :/

MrsB

 

[Granny Hatchet]

I've also got a feather-loss problem and would appreciate your views. This is my Australorp, Liquorice. Some background facts: she free-ranges with two other hens, no rooster, layer pellets as free choice, about three years old. And now her entire under-carriage is bare! She's been broody before and raised chicks, so I have seen breast plucking with her, but never like this! She's completely bare and what feathers are left are just a centimeter of quill, in a very distinct pattern (as you'll see in the photo). She's been like this for a few months now.

I've read it could be molting. It's the end of winter here so it is molt time: one of the others molted through winter (our winters don't get that cold) and the other is busy, but I don't think this is a molt ... there's no sign of pin feathers.

Self-plucking: possible, though I never see her do it or find black feathers. If it was, why would she be doing this?

Depluming mite: I though it might be this, but the vet did a skin swab and found no trace of mite. Also, I doubt mites would deplume in such a geometric way, with no loss on other parts of the body.

Protein deficiency: I'm giving her hard boiled egg now to see if this could be it.

What are your thoughts? Have you see feather loss like this before?

Hi, I have 2 black alstop broodys and wondered so I went and took a look. They both have the same exact pattern as yours with that tiny row of feathers still there.