Feather loss why!!

[ChickenNewbies]

We have a flock of 9 hens and a rooster. One easter egger hen started losing feathers and just gotten worse. She is the only one of the 9. We thought it could be the roosters favorite but strange thing is we have never seen her get mounted but see the rest get it all the time?

The feather loss is not just the back but all over execpt the wings as you can see in the pics. We dont see any lice on her but we did find 1 in a nest box like a month ago but never since. We keep a very clean coop. She is laying very good so it cant be a molt?



Any ideas?

 

[rekkas peeps]

could she be molting?

 

[ChickenNewbies]

It sure looks like it but she is laying? And its been a couple months of progressively getting worse. She seems happy and goes about her business normally

We ordered some aprons and they just arrived today so will be putting one on tonight. But that wont help the chest etc...

 

[graciesmum]

My one girl had slowly been loosing her feathers and still laying, and she is in molting, I had it confirmed by a friend that she is definitely molting, she had started laying every other day now instead of everyday but still laying

 

[ChickenNewbies]

I hope that it is just a molt, that would be great. I didnt know they could still lay while molting.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Not likely to be laying if she's molting. Could the others be feather eaters? What is the protein percentage of their total feed intake?

 

[SilkiesForEver]

Do you keep roosters? If so, how many? Have you treated them for lice and mites recently?

 

[ChickenNewbies]

We have 1 rooster.

The feed i think is 16% protein but they free range all day as well. Have never seen any picking going on and the other 8 hens look fine. We have not treated for lice but will research that.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I'm not saying it is feather picking but that is a need for more protein and if they find a source they like (feathers, 90+ % protein) they may continue to go there.

 

[graciesmum]

Some of my girls still layed when they molted, not as regular but they still laid