Loss Of Feathers

[Brahma Rooster]

A few of my chickens are losing an excessive amount of feather.
They look bad. I don't think there molting.
What could it be, I don't wont to lose any chickens.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Can you post pictures? Three guesses. If you have a rooster, it could be him doing it to the hens when he is mating. You could also have a feather plucker that is eating the feathers off of the other birds. Have you checked the birds over carefully for lice/mites?

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

What makes you think they aren't molting? Have they already done so this year? Do they have water and food? Lack of either of these can cause them to molt. Are they plucking their feathers out? If so, they could have lice or mites. Give them some foods with lots of protein like eggs, oatmeal, mealworms, quinoa or meat scraps.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[drumstick diva]

Check over your birds, if some have intact feathers they may be the ones pulling feathers out of the others. In that case, you should separate them and the feathers should start growing back .
If you have a rooster and he is overbreeding some of the hens, you may want to put him elsewhere, giving them time to heal. Also a chicken saddle/apron would give some protection so the feathers will grow back.

If they are just molting they can loose quite a bit of feathers- feeding extra protein will help them recover.

 

[rainbowhatchery]

welcome

 

[Brahma Rooster]

The hen all the way to right is the worst. She has been like this for about a year.

Here is another hen like that.
The roosters are the big red one the white one.

 

[Brahma Rooster]

I think it is because of the two roosters and mites/lice. I have solved the problem.
1. The Rhode Island rooster has checked into freezer camp.
2. I have given the rest anti lice and mite powder.

Sorry I'm just now answering. I've moved again.
Also for any one who thinks this is neat, I bought a red heeler puppy, well she became a egg sucker.
So I took couple eggs put two small holes in it (one on ether end) blew the inside out and filled it full of Louisiana Hot Sauce.
That was the last egg she ate.