Feather loss

[tsard]

I have a hen which had gone broody but has recently (2 days ago) abandoned her eggs. She is aggressively going at her best and stomach and I have noticed after a bit of a fight to pick her up, she has lost a lot of feathers on her breast.
Should i be worried?
She is still young and this is the first time she had gone broody. But I am unsure of why she abandoned her eggs (5), and why she is constantly preening/plucking at her breast feathers. Her head is always down and it looks as if she is irritated in the area, but upon inspection i did not notice any critters that could be biting her.
What should i do?
I have had chickens for less then a year and need all the advice i could get.

 

[rosemarythyme]

The missing feathers is part of being broody, they pluck their own bellies so their skin is available to keep the eggs warm.

 

[aart]

Her head is always down and it looks as if she is irritated in the area, but upon inspection i did not notice any critters that could be biting her.

I would look closer for bugs, broodies are very susceptible to infestations.
How long had she been setting, did she have access to a dust bath?


Bug Blurb:
Have you checked them over real well for mites and/or lice?

Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).