Hen pecking feathers

[Lexian]

Hen (well I think she is the culprit) has been pecking all her feathers out from around the oil gland neat the back of her tail. I have put lice treatment on several times and just when the fluffy feathers start growing back again, the bare spot reappears. Any suggestions?

 

[nuthatched]

Hi there.
What lice treatment? And any evidence of lice? Does the oils gland look inflamed?

 

[Lexian]

Firstly, tried Pestene, then at the next loss I used DE, and then yesterday I used a oil based organic Lice and Mite spray. I need to have a closed look at the oil gland as it isn’t an obvious problem that I can see without checking. She does have dusty looking stuff at the base of the feathers in that area though.

 

[Lexian]

I had a really good check of her and no sign of lice, oil gland is ok and covered in feathers, bare area is further up her back. Also her belly is bare. Could she be moulting? This is the first day of summer in Aus. None of the others are moulting.