Help to identify what’s going on with my Cinnamon Queens

[CarieLovesChickens]

Can anyone help to identify what is
Going on with my Cinnamon Queens? I have 3 of these in my flock who are missing significant feathers on their necks and bellies and near the vent. The skin looks
Infected and scabbed. I’m in the Midwest and it’s super cold so I don’t suspect mites or lice. The other 5 in my flock (Buckeyes) seem healthy and unaffected.

 

[sourland]

Most likely others in the flock are feather pecking/plucking them. Generally it's the birds that are in perfect feather.

 

[Eggcessive]

It looks like a case of feather picking, which can be due to over crowding, boredom from not getting outside to free range, or not enough protein in the diet. It can lead to cannibalism. If you can identify who is doing the picking, you can go from there.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I’m in the Midwest and it’s super cold so I don’t suspect mites or lice.

It does look to me like over grooming and possibly still due to parasites which can indeed over winter on their host animal. (it doesn't freeze up against their skin) Those with stronger immune systems or maybe different bathing or eating/foraging habits may be differently effected.. Studies conducted in California showed that 90% of parasites were carried by 10% of the flock. Checking at night with a flash light can give a clearer.

Those are broken off, so it isn't molting. Feather picking is one possibility (but who does that to the belly of another) and the extensive fraying looks like maybe they have been itchy at some point if not still now. The neck feathers break, from scratching with the foot. Feathers can look pretty rough just from wear and tear getting close to the first molt, but I would NOT be so quick to dismiss parasites with the irritated skin and other symptoms presenting.

Best wishes finding the culprit!

Edit.. Headline says they're CQ, posting says Buckeye (ah, unaffected!).. so different breed birds is also different genetics and strength and weakness.. interesting that it's happening all to one breed.. in theory cq is the weaker of the two and the buckeye are thriving a bit more in your area!