feathers missing in large quantities

[bigbird]

I have a large hen whose feathers right above her tail and up her back are missing. There is not a roo in with her just other hens and they all seem to get along. None of the other hens look like her. Her feathers are picked/missing clear down to the skin. Doesn't look like mites. I just got her about two weeks ago with another of the same kind and powdered the both of them before placing in with other hens.

 

[JennsPeeps]

Sounds like she's getting picked by the others. You're going to have to observe them and find out who's doing it. Separate the culprit and consider pinless peepers (google it for what that is).

In the meantime, put pine tar on her exposed skin to prevent more picking.

 

[ChickieKeeta]

Recently I noticed one of my hens looked just as you have described. I gave my rooster to an experienced chicken farmer. When he came to get the rooster I asked him if my hen was molting or if she had problem. He assured me she is molting. Then all the girls had the same feather loss. Now their feathers are growing back. Your chick is likely just molting.

edited for clarity

 

[bigbird]

If she is just molting would the pine tar hurt her to put it on? Also, would mites make them lose theier feathers? Thanks

 

[ChickieKeeta]

I don't know if it would hurt or not to use pine tar. I never heard of it. I can't be 100% sure what the feather loss is truly caused by. I wish I had taken photos of mine. One chicken suddenly had a big area of baldness. On the back just above the tail. The farmer told me it was normal & the chick was molting. Soon the rest did the same thing. They are feathering nicely now.

I just wanted you to know it may not be a problem. Keep an eye on her and the others as I am certain you are. Maybe you should search molting.

 

[bigbird]

OK.. I just did a search on molting. There was a remark made that if a chicken was moling they would not lay eggs. I only have two and get two of different colors every day so I know that that can not be what is happening with her. I also looked at images of molts and again, it does not look like this is what is happening. One article stated that the back was very quick to grow back in. You could actually see the needles coming through on day number 2. Her back is down to the skin and she even has a few scabs. I did see her yesterday shaking and ruffling her feathers and then picking herself on the back for a few minuets. The only other thing that I can think of is that when I got them about two weeks ago, I put a duster on for mites before I put them in with my silkies. This was put on them heavily. Any possibility that she may have been alergic to that? Thanks everyone for your help.

 

[chickabator]

check for mites