Feather loss...

[Chickeninthemitten08]

The main reason for this post is that one of my isa browns has lost some feathers and I am looking for ideas as to why. None of my other birds are missing feathers just her. I feel as though its getting worse not better as now I can see a bright red patch of skin.
Please note I do NOT have a rooster.

I am also wondering (for you more experienced bird owners) when you notice missing feathers what is your normal investigation route. What do you rule out first or do you just usually know from location of the feathers what the issue is?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

If you don't see evidence of lice or mites it may be the beginning of molt.
How old is she?

 

[Chickeninthemitten08]

If you don't see evidence of lice or mites it may be the beginning of molt.
How old is she?

I checked for mice/lice and did not see any. They are just over a year in age.

 

[MillersFarm]

Sounds like she molting, That or it could be that a rooster is over breeding her.. Do you have any roosters and if you do how many hens and roos do you have?

 

[sbhkma]

In the first post it's mentioned there is no rooster. It sounds like a molt to me too. I have one that is molting right now-which is odd as they usually molt in fall, but there's been some flock changes: her best hen buddy died and there are two new pullets in a coop/run right next to these guys and will be added to the flock soon. It's also like day 15 of 100+ temps with humidity over 50%. They have shade, fans, cool water to stand in. Ugh. I'd drop feathers too!

 

[Chickeninthemitten08]

I guess I should clarify as well, I have no adult rooster. I did recently bring home 14 month-old chicks that "should" all be hens.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

The main reason for this post is that one of my isa browns has lost some feathers and I am looking for ideas as to why. None of my other birds are missing feathers just her. I feel as though its getting worse not better as now I can see a bright red patch of skin.
Please note I do NOT have a rooster.

I am also wondering (for you more experienced bird owners) when you notice missing feathers what is your normal investigation route. What do you rule out first or do you just usually know from location of the feathers what the issue is?

Hi, welcome to BYC!

I actually don't think it looks like molt. It looks like damaged feathers to me not like dropping feathers. And not all mites can be seen with the naked eye. Also, red mites live in cracks of wood and not on the bird. So if your are checking during the day you might not be seeing the whole picture.

I would be quite impressed if someone could sex 14 females at 1 month old, unless they were bought at the hatchery.

Upon seeing symptoms.. I do an after dark check with a flashlight, not too early (maybe 2 hours after dark). Place the bird on their back, and bend legs toward chest, keeping it dark so birds stay on roost, part the feathers near the vent and on the abdomen and look for any crawlies running away. if I see anything, I treat with Permethryn spray.

In my experience, hens do not all molt in the fall. I have had several spring and dead of winter molters. The more chickens I have, the more I see that each is an individual and will respond to environmental factors according to however they darn well please regardless of what all the text books say. Also note that things will show symptoms in the weakest of the birds first. Those with stronger immune systems or less stressed may not show signs.

So, There are a couple of suspects that you would go through. You have already eliminated mating damage. That leaves nutrition, pecking, molting (including stress induced), and parasites.

Is your hen still laying eggs? What do you feed (protein %), including treats and supplements? Do you worm? How many birds do you have? Do you know her place in the pecking order? How much space do they have in the coop/run? Do they free range, with how much space? Did you add those 14 one month old chicks in with your flock already?

So basically you can see.. I go down the line and work by a process of elimination.

Depluming mites are one of those microscopic ones. I am seeing evidence of feather damage without evidence of visual parasites in my own flock. So I am gonna take my most calm girl to the vet and see about them doing a skin scrape or microscopic inspection of suspect feathers.. because those need to be specially treated with something systemic, though I don't have all the details figured out yet. A visit to my vet will be $45 plus any tests. With so many birds, I can't afford to mess around. But I don't haphazardly spend either, so I must be taking this seriously. I believe wings and tails is one of the areas evidence shows up first.

Hope you get it figured out.

 

[Chickeninthemitten08]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

I actually don't think it looks like molt. It looks like damaged feathers to me not like dropping feathers. And not all mites can be seen with the naked eye. Also, red mites live in cracks of wood and not on the bird. So if your are checking during the day you might not be seeing the whole picture.

I would be quite impressed if someone could sex 14 females at 1 month old, unless they were bought at the hatchery.

Upon seeing symptoms.. I do an after dark check with a flashlight, not too early (maybe 2 hours after dark). Place the bird on their back, and bend legs toward chest, keeping it dark so birds stay on roost, part the feathers near the vent and on the abdomen and look for any crawlies running away. if I see anything, I treat with Permethryn spray.

In my experience, hens do not all molt in the fall. I have had several spring and dead of winter molters. The more chickens I have, the more I see that each is an individual and will respond to environmental factors according to however they darn well please regardless of what all the text books say. Also note that things will show symptoms in the weakest of the birds first. Those with stronger immune systems or less stressed may not show signs.

So, There are a couple of suspects that you would go through. You have already eliminated mating damage. That leaves nutrition, pecking, molting (including stress induced), and parasites.

Is your hen still laying eggs? What do you feed (protein %), including treats and supplements? Do you worm? How many birds do you have? Do you know her place in the pecking order? How much space do they have in the coop/run? Do they free range, with how much space? Did you add those 14 one month old chicks in with your flock already?

So basically you can see.. I go down the line and work by a process of elimination.

Depluming mites are one of those microscopic ones. I am seeing evidence of feather damage without evidence of visual parasites in my own flock. So I am gonna take my most calm girl to the vet and see about them doing a skin scrape or microscopic inspection of suspect feathers.. because those need to be specially treated with something systemic, though I don't have all the details figured out yet. A visit to my vet will be $45 plus any tests. With so many birds, I can't afford to mess around. But I don't haphazardly spend either, so I must be taking this seriously. I believe wings and tails is one of the areas evidence shows up first.

Hope you get it figured out.

Wow that is a lot lol! Thank you for taking the time to respond. I will start by checking at night as you suggested. (Since that seems like the easiest place to start.) She is the most timid of the 3 larger chickens I have. I have one that is very friendly and one that is kindof a jerk. She's the first to peck at me or the little girls. (I was told when I bought them they were all hens, have been sharing pics on Facebook groups and most people have thought all hens but I am fully aware only time will tell as my Cindy turned into Carl last time .) I was letting them all into the same outdoor run (because it's quite large) then I noticed my one hen chasing and pecking them so I gave them their own run. For the most part the hen in questioned and the other older 2 are free ranging when I am home and in a penned run while I am at work. She has been laying normal. I have wormed. I feed the layer crumble from TSC which is 16% other than that they get an occasional treat (usually some fruit or vegetable) and occasionally they stand under my horses and get bits of grain if it falls.
I have had a slight hunch my other hen may be behind this, is that possible? Would there be any harm in treating for lice/mites if they do not have them? I have read some people worm them with ivermectin is that true/Good?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Normal laying usually indicates not molting.

The main harm in treating them for lice/mites (that can be treated with the spray) is possible build up of resistance to the drug by the parasite. Other than that, no harm to the birds that I know of. If used according to direction, no need to hold eggs back.

It's true some people do worm with Ivermectin. And that is one of the treatments for the depluming mite is my understanding. However, it is not labeled for use on poultry and does not have a recommended withdrawal time. Which is one reason am going to see my vet about it, to get a withdrawal recommendation (in addition to verification). I have a really calm hen that will behave perfectly!

With any wormer, I suggest that you know what you are treating for, if you need to treat, and alternating drugs to inhibit the development of resistance by said parasite if treatment is needed.

I'm no expert, and I'm still learning here to.. so please don't just take my word, but do what makes sense to you.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I wanted to say also... yes, it's possible that another hen COULD be behind feather damage. But NOT the type of damage I see on your girls wing. Picking will be broken or missing feathers. Those feathers are in tact but bare.

Basically, if she doesn't get treated for the RIGHT mites... she will be naked before long!

Once you get the parasites taken care of, you can give feed with a little more protein. Feathers are made of 90% protein, so doing that will help them grow back faster.. if they will grow back before molt (I'm not sure).

Get her treated!