Loss of feathers on back- help!

[MMcWADE]

Could use some problem solving from those more experienced... my chickens are losing feathers on their backs. A chicken raising friend of mine said they had feather mites. We cleaned out the whole coop, treated the interior and brooder boxes with elector PSP and treated each hen with it as well. We then learned that this might not work for feather mites, so we treated the whole flock with 2 rounds of ivermectin. They still seem to be getting worse. Maybe mites aren’t the problem? I thought at first it was the rooster but he is losing his back feathers too.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Do you have a rooster? This sounds like your hens are getting over mounted. A chicken saddle will work, and if you have a lot of roosters, rehoming some will help as well.

If you have multiple roosters, and some of f the roosters are getting bald backs, that means they're less dominant. You need to rehome some.

 

[LaFleche]

Where in this world are you located and how old are your chickens?

They might just be molting = renewing their plumage, which occurs naturally once a year, normally in autumn/begin of winter.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Could use some problem solving from those more experienced... my chickens are losing feathers on their backs. A chicken raising friend of mine said they had feather mites. We cleaned out the whole coop, treated the interior and brooder boxes with elector PSP and treated each hen with it as well. We then learned that this might not work for feather mites, so we treated the whole flock with 2 rounds of ivermectin. They still seem to be getting worse. Maybe mites aren’t the problem? I thought at first it was the rooster but he is losing his back feathers too.

Please post some photos! Thanks

 

[Wolf River]

What happens to these hens in the wintertime? Do they freeze to death? Im just starting treatment for my hens. I live in Wisconsin

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

What happens to these hens in the wintertime? Do they freeze to death? Im just starting treatment for my hens. I live in Wisconsin

You can put chicken saddles on them. If you know how to make your own, you can add a bottom layer of fleece to help keep them warm. They shouldn't freeze to death unless you have Artic weather like Alaska.