Hen losing feather like mad! NOT MOLTING!

[BoiseBubba]

I have a Australorp hen who is losing feathers like crazy, they fall out at the lightest touch and her skin is rough and dry. This is no molting, and I doubt stress, because she is free range, hardly any roos, and very good feed...Any ideas?

 

[PunkinPeep]

You might look up "depluming mite." I've read about that before; maybe that's a possibility for you.

 

[Pine Grove]

My bet she's begining to molt..Thats how it starts..Depluming mites dont cause feather loss themselfs..The irritation from the mites causes the bird to pull and peck i'ts own feathers