Long time concern!

[The Gift of Man]

These are our chickens Varda and Jewel, the oldest of our flock, (1 year 5 months.) Black Australorp and Sapphire Gem.
Varda's feathers began getting just normally raggedy around January this year, in April she finally began to go bald, the feathers on her head fell leaving bright red skin, (Might be normal color?) And we assumed this was a molting thing. Sometime in may, Jewel and Mary began having ragged feathers as well. Now, Varda has begun having very torn up sides, and red patches, and her head doesn't even look like it's close to getting any feathers. Soon after, Jewel's wings began to break down as well, as seen. Mary seemed to have fixed herself at some point, and is fine.

But being nearly September, is this seriously natural molting, or do we have an issue here?

Varda is also ungodly more antisocial than anyone else, I mean like 1, 2, 5000 type difference, and loses her mind if you try and handle her. Jewel is also slowly becoming more aggravated and shy. Mary is more natural.

This just doesn't seem right. Is there anything we should know?

 

[Saveria]

I have heard of a parasite called "feather eating mites" and I had depluming mites. One of those may be your issue. Not sure how to treat feather eating mites, but the depluming ones you treat with ivermectin. I believe that both can't be seen by the naked eye. I don't know enough about it personally, but it may point you in the right direction.

What is their diet like, btw?