General feather loss?

[wholehearted]

Is there a nutritional or other deficiency that can cause generalized feather loss in a flock? These chickens are about 12 weeks old. When they shake, I can actually see feathers flying off of them and I am finding a lot on the ground and in the coop. It is not just one or a few, but many of them. I have never seen this, but I'm wondering if it could be some kind of nutritional deficiency? They are on grower feed with a 19% protein level. I have checked for mites and lice and there doesn't seem to be any unusual pecking or problems among the flock.

 

[subhanalah]

Could be feather eating mites. I don't think you can see those.

 

[Eggcessive]

They will have a couple of mini-molts before their big one at the age of 18 months or so. It's probably a mini-molt, but here is a good link about vitamin deficiency which can affect feather quality and feather loss, plus a link about molt:
http://www.grit.com/animals/molting...lp-chickens-get-through-it.aspx#axzz34w6JnsWB
http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/pou..._poultry/vitamin_deficiencies_in_poultry.html

 

[iwiw60]

I'm going through the very same thing right now with my 4 BAs...feathers everywhere!! No visual 'loss' on their bodies, just fluffy feathers everywhere. I've been told that it is a mini-molt....good gawd I can't wait for the BIG ONE! LOL Nothing unusual is going on with them, eating and drinking fine, poops fine, happy go lucky....weird, tho!!

 

[wholehearted]

Thank you! Perhaps the mini-molt is what is going on. How is it that I've had chickens for four years (several batches of chicks) and never noticed this before?! LOL We are starting with a whole new flock now after a move, so maybe I'm just being more of a worrywart than with my other chicks.