Hen with damaged feathers

[georgiashens]

Hi, I have a flock of 4 hens. I have two 2 year olds and two 1 year olds. Introductions went fairly smoothly last summer but one of the younger girls feathers keeps getting more and more damaged. She now has bald patches on her shoulders and back.

My first thought is that one of our older girls is pulling them out at night. It doesn’t happen during the day so that’s why I’m assuming it’s at night. She has been a problem in the past with bullying and can be very spiteful. We did have red mites a few weeks ago but they have been treated and seem as though they have completely gone now.

We bought her a saddle but it only made the older girls attack her and after hours of monitoring her wearing one, she wasn’t getting used to it at all and was just flapping about looking very uncomfortable. Today, we have put the older girl who we suspect is the culprit in a dog crate for the night. Shes not happy but I can’t have her doing more damage.

Is there anything else I can do? Thank you

 

[Mrs. K]

That looks like depluming mites to me. The feather is there, but it is all wispy. Look them up and see what you think. Some birds are much more susceptible to parasites than others.

 

[georgiashens]

Here’s a better picture:

 

[Perris]

Evidently you do not know the cause

My first thought is that one of our older girls is pulling them out at night. It doesn’t happen during the day so that’s why I’m assuming it’s at night.

so don't be quick to blame other flock members. Apart from ectoparasites that can damage feathers, some birds' genetics give them more fragile feathers, and some birds just grow a relatively poor set because something (often diet) was less than ideal when they last moulted (then they are stuck with poor plumage till the next moult).

My advice is to put them all back together and gather more evidence as to the possible causes before intervening again.