Lice or Pecking?

[Ddbaruch]

Hey My barred rock back tail area looks like this on only two of them... is this lice, mites, or just plucked feathers... I mean it’s summer so they are not molting. Thanks!

 

[Kathy Golla]

Wing and tail feathers look broken off. I think I vote feather picking plus depluming mites.
She could be breaking her feathers off by overgrooming/over dust bathing trying to get rid of the mites.
Or it could be poultry mites or lice.
Let’s see what others think.
You said there were two like this and they are both Barred Rocks?

 

[Ddbaruch]

Yes I have four barred rocks. Two with the buts that look identical and two that don’t have anything. I didn’t think it was mites or lice because I then thought all of them would have it. And of course the top hen looks fine. If it was lice or mites wouldn’t they all have it?

 

[Kathy Golla]

Did you check them all really thoroughly?
Do they dust bathe, have a place for that?
Any insight why the hens tail feathers might be broken off? Or they look broken off in the pic.

 

[Ddbaruch]

Yes they dust bath. Have a dust pan in the coop with sand and diatomaceous earth mix. Only thing I could think of regarding the broken feather is pecking.

 

[Ddbaruch]

I didn’t check them all thoroughly I am not sure what to look for for lice or mites. And how would I treat that?

 

[Kathy Golla]

They need a good place to dust bathe to keep the insects away.
Look on the internet about checking and what to look for.
Both lice and mites.
Both insects look different.
You’ve got to really check them over and know what you are looking for.
Rule that out first.
Treatment is not too hard...it’s spraying the birds and coop with pyrethrin two times 7 days apart. But make sure they have bugs before you do that.

 

[Kathy Golla]

Yes they dust bath. Have a dust pan in the coop with sand and diatomaceous earth mix. Only thing I could think of regarding the broken feather is pecking.

Good, make sure they are using it or try another medium. Mine like just straight dirt, like potting mix without fertilizer, topsoil.
You don’t need the DE that’s bad for their respiratory system.

 

[Ddbaruch]

They need a good place to dust bathe to keep the insects away.
Look on the internet about checking and what to look for.
Both lice and mites.
Both insects look different.
You’ve got to really check them over and know what you are looking for.
Rule that out first.
Treatment is not too hard...it’s spraying the birds and coop with pyrethrin two times 7 days apart. But make sure they have bugs before you do that.

Good to know I will look up what to look for. Regarding dust bath, I have 14 inch diameter round metal pan about 3 inches deep with dry dirt and diatomaceous earth mix. Is that sufficient for 4 chickens? I am adding 4 more now. So I would have 8 total but up until yesterday I had that pan out for 4 of them. I also do a deep littering method in the coop and I regularly sprinkle diatomaceous earth in that to keep bugs out.

 

[Kathy Golla]

If no mites/lice yes it’s probably feather picking. I’d like to know more about why that hen has no tail feathers.
So you have to watch and see during the day who is picking at each other.
How much space do you have? Do they free range?
Top reason for feather picking is lack of space and/or boredom.
You can use a higher protein 18% all flock feed to satisfy their appetites, some people have success, some dont with that.
If the picking isn’t happening during the day it’s happening at night on the roost and those that have perfect feathers are the suspects.
You don’t have a rooster right?