Is there such a thing as too ragged?

[sphinxface]

Most of my chickens look like they need a good molt, but I don't think I want to try inducing one? One of them has very thinned out feathers in a lot of places, like the skin around her crop is all featherless. Sometimes when I touch her there the skin kinda sticks out a bit.

I'm also not sure what feathers normally look like around the vent?

My question really is; what is too ragged? At what point should I suspect a problem?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Have you carefully checked the birds for signs of external parasites (ie mites)?

 

[sphinxface]

I had seen lice before, and gave them lots of DE in their dust baths. I looked around her really quick but didn't see anything. They would object to thorough inspection though, I'm not sure how to handle them in a way that keeps them calm enough to do something like that?

 

[16 paws]

That does not look normal to me...the skin looks very red. I am no expert but I would suspect something is not right.
I would make sure they are treated for lice and mites, I use scalex
I would also make sure they are on a good chicken feed with lots of protein. I use chick start and grow and then provide egg shells and oyster shell on the side for them to eat as needed.
Good luck with your flock.

 

[Kev]

No don't induce a molt. They will come in molt later this year.

To me it looks like she has either been sitting or walking through something sticky. Have there been broken eggs in nests?

 

[sphinxface]

Oh I tried to give her a bath too... Her legs are a little wet ;0 im glad you guys know what you're looking at! There are almost no feathers on her crop area and where I imagine there should be feathers there are redder spots. I will try to inspect them more tomorrow with the fiancés help. and I will google what mites look like..

 

[sphinxface]

I tried to take a pic of her bum, they aren't fans of being manhandled. There was poop on her bum feathers so I tried washing them off, that's why she looks wet!

 

[sphinxface]

I cleaned their coop recently and didn't add DE to the bedding, this might be a factor... Poor mamas ;(
It says mites don't always live on the chickens but come out at night to bite?

 

[sphinxface]

So I just went out there after my weevil hunt and didn't see any mites, but I guess that doesn't mean they aren't there...

 

[sphinxface]

If it's not lice or mites, could it be something else?