Losing breast feathers

[Ally77]

Hi,. My 2 ginger nuts are losing their breast feathers, I've checked for lice and can't see anything, they are not broody. They are eating laying and on my novice inspection totally health (I've been keeping a close eye as we lost a Pepperpot last week, reason unknown).

I've taken some photos the skin looks smooth only one small area is red. Note my other pepperpot isn't losing her feathers she is fine, currently. Not sure when this started as I've not seen lots of feathers only the odd one or two when cleaning their Omlet coop. I'm treating the greenhouse and their coop for mites and plan to get them a spot on.

They live in regular chicken feed, kitchen veg scraps, they have a whole garden to forage, oyster shells, corn. In their water I put apple cider vinegar (for polutry). Right photos ...

Any thoughts would help. Both gingernuts are like this (well this one is the worst of the two)

 

[Boonie Stomper]

do put some protective coating on the red area ...blue or black to hide the red on the bare cropped hen to deter other's pecking it.

Also, try upping the protein in case deficiency is leading them to eat feathers. Chickens love meat scraps as well as veg.

Did you look at night during roost for nocturnally active mites?

 

[micstrachan]

I agree it could be feather eating. Or their breasts could be rubbing on the roost. You said you checked for life, but how about mites?

 

[Boonie Stomper]

I agree it could be feather eating. Or their breasts could be rubbing on the roost. You said you checked for life, but how about mites?

gotta just love Google's "helpful" text autocorre corr correction. ..
not life, lice, right?

 

[micstrachan]

Haha! Yep.