Feathering in Speckled Sussex

[Sarahh_Janeyy]

Almost 11 week old pullet, never fully feathered. She has most of her feathers, but her back and tail never feathered. The follicles look strange to me. This is my first time owning chickens. She was very slow to feather compared to the rest of the chicks. Please see pictures. What do you think? Should I be worried? She behaves like nothing is wrong. She's very active and curious and brave. No one seems to be picking on her or anything. Thanks for your input!

 

[Mikaela2016]

Any possibility of mites?

 

[Sarahh_Janeyy]

Don't think so, everyone else is fine, she was always slow to feather.

 

[janiedoe]

Lice? Does she have some kind of buildup (like lice eggs) around the base of her feathers?
Fungal?
@casportpony @Eggcessive

 

[Eggcessive]

It looks like she has had her feathers broken off and pecked out. There are some blue feather shafts visible and growing in. I don’t know why she has lacked some feather growth.

 

[Sarahh_Janeyy]

It looks like she has had her feathers broken off and pecked out. There are some blue feather shafts visible and growing in. I don’t know why she has lacked some feather growth.

Yeah I was more worried about feather picking but I haven't seen it happening at all and she's middle to high on the pecking order so I haven't seen anyone picking on her. I was wondering if sussex feather slowly in general? I read that having different breeds that feather at different rates can cause picking problems. I don't see any parasites or anything.

 

[Eggcessive]

You could try a cream such as Nustock in the horse aisle at a feed store, or pine tar and apply it daily. Vaseline or bag balm might work as well, but Nustock is opaque and covers/disguises bare spots. Three of those taste bad which may help. That may stop the feather picking so that you can watch for the feathers to grow in there.

 

[Sarahh_Janeyy]

You could try a cream such as Nustock in the horse aisle at a feed store, pine tar and apply it daily. Vaseline or bag balm might work as well, but Nustock is opaque and covers/disguises bare spots. Three of those taste bad which may help. That may stop the feather picking so that you can watch for the feathers to grow in there.

Ah thank you! That sounds like a practical solution.

 

[Sarahh_Janeyy]

Update:
There is definitely feather picking. Broken shafts. Blood. I got vetricyn plus poultry anti microbial spray and pick no more cover up lotion by rooster booster.

These were the only things I could find around here. She seems very distressed and picks at the lotion and even though she seems to dislike it, she keeps doing it to get it off herself while running around frantically. Also I'm pretty sure she hates me now.

The other birds, one in particular, are way too interested in her raw bum. I'm not sure what to do other than keep applying this stuff. It's only been 2 days but I'm not sure if this is making it worse?

She's already one of the less friendly so it's hard to catch her to put this stuff on, and she's seeming more distressed.. But she definitely keeps breaking shafts and bleeding. I'm not sure if she's doing it or if the other birds are doing it.

I ordered an apron to cover her feathers but not sure when it will get here or if it will even fit.

Any other suggestions? Stuff I can buy online?

 

[Sarahh_Janeyy]

I'm holding her and putting pressure on the shafts.