Losing feathers

[fowlhouse18]

We have 15 chickens, 5 each of California Whites, Cinnamon Queen, and Americana (green eggs). A few have lost feathers and tails all in the tail area. They are still laying. Is there such a thing as lice? Not sure why none of the California Whites are affected. Can anyone help with a diagnosus or remedy?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Okay.. it's posted weird so won't quote right either..

Lice and mites are possible.. but that location needs asking do you have a rooster that's mounting.. Another possibility is bully's plucking.

Closer inspection to look at abdomens is recommended.

Head feathers look like they *might* also be reflecting conditions of being mounted.

If mounting is the issue.. then maybe the rooster has favorites, some are easier to catch and make submit, etc.. Hence the whites less effected??

 

[fowlhouse18]

Okay.. it's posted weird so won't quote right either..

Lice and mites are possible.. but that location needs asking do you have a rooster that's mounting.. Another possibility is bully's plucking.

Closer inspection to look at abdomens is recommended.

Head feathers look like they *might* also be reflecting conditions of being mounted.

If mounting is the issue.. then maybe the rooster has favorites, some are easier to catch and make submit, etc.. Hence the whites less effected??

We do not have roosters

 

[coach723]

Sometimes a dominant hen will also do mounting in the absence of the rooster, so still may be going on. There also may be feather picking going on, and that often happens on the roosts. The most pristine birds are often the ones doing it, so one of the whites, or more than one may be causing it. Some observation should answer that, including once they've gone to roost for the night. Common causes of feather picking are boredom, not enough space, and less often not enough protein. Rearranging your roost layout may help, so they can spread out more, or space total could be an issue. Add some boredom busters and do some observing to see exactly what's going on. Even one very dominant bird, male or female, can make a space too small. What are the dimensions of your coop area and run area for 15 birds?