Losing feathers not from molting

[Worleyfarm]

My Rhode Island red started losing feathers around her crop about two months ago. Her skin is red but sometimes it is normal color. We treated her with vetircyn for two weeks, didn’t help. started feeding her feather fixer, didn’t help. We’ve tried bluecoat, we’ve also tried Neosporin. nothing is helping and now above that towards her neck her feathers are breaking. Does anyone have any insight? We’ve been looking all over the web, not helpful at all. I attached pics

 

[Wezdin]

Is she broody? a broody hen will pull out her feathers to help transfer the heat to the eggs.

 

[Worleyfarm]

Not at all! She lays 28, give or take, eggs a month. She lays first thing and jumps out to eat and roam. Her waddles and comb are nice and plump and red. She acts fine and she isn’t picked on by any other chickens. It’s weird to because her skin will be that bright red and an hour later it’s normal again.

 

[mscherilyn]

I'm also interested in what you get for an answer here. I've been having a similar problem. It started about 7-8 months ago. I have 6 chickens affected (all of them). When it started, I thought it was their first molt. But, the problem never went away.

It's like their feather fell out like a molt, but then they don't come back in right. Those feathers that didn't fall out look like the hair of the feather (barbules) are being stripped, leaving only the barbs on the shafts and looking very scanty.

I've looked them over for lice several times and didn't find that to be the issue. I keep DE in the coop -- to attack the possible mites. I feed them Feather Fixer and Hearty Hen (both 18% protein), and it doesn't help either. I haven't tried anything else yet.

They are not broody (well, not all of them, and not all of the time). I can't figure it out. Must be a parasite of some sort, but what?

I thought about worming them, but honestly, I live in AZ where it is hot and dry. Worms have never been a problem...and my research on that doesn't imply feather loss as a symptom anyway.

Help me Obi-Wan, you're my only hope!

Here are pics of the motley crew. They look AWFUL!

 

[Worleyfarm]

Oh wow! All your poor babies! we only have one affected so far. it has just been since mid february. but it looks to be moving up her neck. it does look like she has feathers trying to grow back but they never do? wondering if they broke? the ones on her neck are breaking mid shaft???
i figure i will take her to vet within the next couple of weeks if no one has ever seen this and has any idea on how to help. my chicken vet is almost 2 hours away so i try to get help here first before i make the drive!

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Greetings Worleyfarm & mscherilyn,

Worleyfarm, and mscherilyn, your hens may be having the same feather issue. I am thinking they have depluming and/or feather mites. Depluming mites cause itching of the skin when they burrow into the feather shaft. And the bird will actually pull out their own feathers for relief. They are noticed most often during Spring and Summer. Treatment is Ivermectin drops, powders don't work, as they burrow into the quill. Feather mites is another type of mite, that can be causing the feather damage. Feather mites can be treated with a poultry dust (permethrin), or, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual, Ivermectin drops can also be used for feather mites.

Do some research, and decide how you will treat your birds. These mites can pose a serious health issue if not attended to soon.

These are my thoughts on your chicken's issue. I hope I have been helpful.

God Bless

 

[Worleyfarm]

We thought if live/mites and did the ivermectin. We put it between shoulders, under wings and around bent. We did two treatments and we treated all of our birds. The last treatment was April 1st. I will do more research on mites and applying the ivermectin.
Thank you for your knowledge!!!

 

[mscherilyn]

I also will do more research on those specific mites. Makes perfect sense. I was suspecting mites too, but couldn't understand why the DE wouldn't have done the trick. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer, and share your knowledge! I'll keep you posted.