Feathers Missing on Necks

[vitanonest]

A couple weeks ago we noticed our two Rode Islands had bald spots on their necks, where all our others seem fine. A little research had us looking toward mites which led to adding DE to their dust bathing area and sprayed then directly, once a day, with a garlic and EO mix.

A little more research and I'm not sure if it's mites...

We have a dozen chickens in a 16x24 foot run and a 5x8 coop. We've never seen aggression or have any reason to believe it's aggression... Although the feathers which are growing back look trimmed... It's also only on our two Rhode Islands.

Thoughts?

 

[Amelia ducks]

Do you have a roo

 

[ChickenLady2014]

Hi, is it possible they are older than your other girls & are going through a light spring molt?

 

[vitanonest]

No rooster, all hens.

They were all born in October and JUST started laying in April.

 

[Amelia ducks]

No rooster, all hens.

They were born in October and JUST started laying in April.

Ok I have a roo who was supposed to be a girl and sometimes he will break the girls feathers around the crop he doesn’t hurt them though

 

[ChickenLady2014]

No rooster, all hens.

They were born in October and JUST started laying in April.

It's possible then, I've had 6 month old birds do a light juvie molt. I've got birds of all ages & it seems like someone's losing feathers all the time. By your picture, they look healthy.

 

[vitanonest]

I've had that happen years ago when I got an accidental rooster. Not this round though, 100% hens.

 

[Amelia ducks]

Ok

I've had that happen years ago when I got an accidental rooster. Not this round though, 100% hens.

They are probably going through a moly chicken lady2014


Apparently I can’t spell molt

 

[vitanonest]

Possible, especially since you can clearly see new feathers coming in. As I understand it they only regrow feathers during a molt? Also, since the only two who have this are Rhode Islands, perhaps it's something with their breed which caused them to do a light molt?

 

[Amelia ducks]

Possible, especially since you can clearly see new feathers coming in. As I understand it they only regrow feathers during a molt? Also, since the only two who have this are Rhode Islands, perhaps it's something with their breed which caused them to do a light molt?

I agree if it was mites they probably would have spread if it was me I would have thought they were mites too