Major feather loss

[bigbird]

Hello: I have four large chickens and two silkies that live and get along great together. Two of my hens have had serious feather problems. I know for a fact that they had mites. I have cleaned and basically sterilized their house, and treated their legs with vasoline for two weeks. They were all dusted with 7 and had 7 in their dirt boxes. The one that was the worst was covered in the purple stuff. (Sorry, I don't remember the name off hand). The same hen was given injections of antibiotics and then vitamins were put in their water. She seems to get better and then the feathers fall off again. The feather loss in on her chest, and on her back in front of tail. I am at the end of my rope with her and simply do not know what to do. Any suggestions? Thanks

 

[teach1rusl]

I guess I'm wondering if she's molting following her bout w/mites??? Are you seeing any porcupine quill looking regrowth in the areas that have lost so many feathers??? Or are you still finding mites on her????

 

[bigbird]

I don't think so, unless they can molt for months at a time.

 

[kristen2678]

I've had a hen going through a really tough molt. It's been months. Have you checked the feathers back by the vent? Do you see clusters of eggs or bugs at all? How about new feathers growing in in the bald areas or under the wings??

 

[Tracy and the Girls]

do u have any roos.
they might have got into a little fight and pecked off the feathers

 

[teach1rusl]

So how long ago were the mites killed off, or are you still battling them (look her over REALLY well)??? I'm trying to determine what kind of time we're talking about. A molt can last quite a while, although not several months. But she could have battled mites for a month or two, and then molted for a month or two, which would be a long time range... Stress (including illness, severe mite problems, medications, etc.) can bring on a molt. So if her "illness" and treatment lasted quite a while, I just think it's possible that she began going into a molt directly after. But it could be other things too...