Hen molting for 6 months starting at 6 months old

[chicknlegs819]

One of my 5 hens started losing feathers on her wings at about 6 months old. The feather loss progressed to her back, and then her vent. Here it is 6 months later ( she's almost a year old), and she's completely bald on her back, vent, and wings. Sometimes it seems she's getting a light layer of down growing back, but then it's gone; that's why I put a saddle on her( by the way she never started laying). Now 2 of my hens are bald on their backs, and my other two are starting to lose feathers in the same spot.
We have checked for mites and lice, and have always treated their coops and yard with DE. Could they be molting or is it something else?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Sounds like something else.
Try increasing protein intake. It can't hurt at this point.

 

[chicknlegs819]

Thanks. I will add cat food..is that good enough? Any better suggestions?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Make sure the cat food is at least 18% protein. I've seen cheap cat foods much lower.
You could use grower feed, cottage cheese, yogurt, meat, sunflower seed, tuna, etc..

 

[chicknlegs819]

Just to make sure..here is the pic. I don't know if posted before

 

[casportpony]

DE didn't work for me. I would dust her with poultry dust and spray or dust the coop and perches. That redness looks like it's from bugs.

This is what I use:

 

[chicknlegs819]

Thanks Casportpony. I will do that asap. I'm desperate!