Hens missing feathers.

[CLutze27]

So most if not all of my hens are missing feathers. They are missing the ones right along their back, just before getting to the tail. They don't appear to be in any sort of distress, and there doesn't appear to be any wounds to the skin.

I had a rooster a while back, and with only 6 hens I thought he might be the reason for the feather loss. Well I got rid of him (sent him to live with my in laws who have about 30 hens) and the problem hasn't seemed to resolve itself. Any advice would be helpful, I've inspected them at night and haven't seen any sort of bugs crawling around on them. The pictures were all taken tonight, as I was closing them in and collecting the eggs.

I've switched them to a food that has a higher protein percentage, thinking maybe they are having a protein deficiency. They are currently eating an 18% pellet. All of them are laying with varying degrees of eggs per day. Some days I'll get 6 and others I'll get 2.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Looks like feathers are growing back, bald spot probably from the Roo mating with them, hopefully the follicles weren't damaged. In the pic that got the bare red back, you can see the pin feathers coming out. Watch she don't get sun burned. It's good that you increased their protein intake, it will help with their feathers regenerating, try some can tuna too. There's a Nutrena feed Feather Fixer that some feed when the birds molt, it's higher in protein and helps with the regrowth.

 

[getaclue]

I have to agree with ChickNanny. It looks like damage from the rooster. Don't worry, the feathers grow back. A cheaper alternative to tuna, is cat food, and mackerel. The mackerel stinks, but the chickens LOVE it.

 

[Pork Pie]

If the feather loss is greater on your lower ranking hens, when compared to your alpha hen, then it would be a fair indicator that your roo was responsible.

 

[CLutze27]

How long does it normally take for feathers to grow back?

 

[getaclue]

From what I see, give them 6 weeks, and go from there. It may not take that long for the one's with less damage, but the ones with more damage are going to take at least that long.