Feathers very dry and faded; edges turning spotted. Spring Molting? Mites? ???

[Cottage843]

Help, please. The ladies are 9 months old now and have always had healthy, shiny pretty feathers. First one Buff Orpington’s feathers started to feel dry and faded. Then another one. Now the Black Austrolorp’s too. They fade and discolor on the edges. Feathers are not falling out; just a few stray feathers are found. I’ve heard molting in spring possible and I’ve heard mites. If mites, what is treatment? Anyone else had this experience? And solved it? I’m attaching a photo of the first one that got this condition. She’s the worst. They eat Scratch and Peck layer feed, water with apple cider vinegar, limited treats of cabbage and corn, are free to forage in backyard, grass, dirt and all, plus I add probiotics powder and poultry booster to their feed. So I don’t think it’s their diet. Thanks in advance.

 

[DobieLover]

They look dirty.
What is your roost arrangement in the coop? Do they have a nice area to dust bathe in?
The birds otherwise look quite healthy.

 

[Cottage843]

Unfortunately it’s not surface dirt or stains. It’s the feathers themselves. Like a leaf on a tree in the fall, just drying up. We have 2 kiddie pools filled with construction sand, and a bit of diatomaceous earth and a little fireplace wood ash, but they are basically ignored. They prefer to dig in dark garden dirt. Another chicken keeper just told me about Rooster Booster Poultry Insect Repellent that is an all natural mixture of oils that you spray on the chickens to control pests like mites. So unless I hear anything different will try this. I wish there was a farm vet around here we could go to. The only vet in our area that will see chickens is an exotic bird practice and super expensive, which we have used for a wounded chicken. But I do need to know what it is I’m trying to treat here. Thanks for your response!