Missing feathers

[MommaHyde]

One of our girls is missing feathers on her front neck. I’m a year into our chickens and I’m not sure what it is. None of the other girls are missing feathers and doesn’t seem to look like multing. Or mites? Hoping it’s not mites. I’m thinking it is from plucking. I’ll attached a picture. Can anyone help us on what to do?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Have you examined for mites?
Birds in their second autumn are likely already or about to molt.
If you're seeing a lot of new feathers laying around, that's what it is.

 

[Mrs. K]

Looks like molting to me. I went down, and one of my girls has bare spots, and feathers hanging off in other spots, and feathers all over the coop. It is that time of year, they are the right age. She looks bright eyed and active...I think it is molt.

 

[aart]

If you're seeing a lot of new feathers laying around, that's what it is.

Old feathers lying around....

I'd guess picking/plucking, they like to eat those tender ones around the face and throat, and the bird being plucked doesn't seem to mind....SMH...have seen it often around here, especially on the EE's.

If it is molting you should see new pin feathers emerging there soon(tho those can be even more delicious).

Have you checked them over real well for mites and/or lice?

Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).

If you do find bugs, permethrin dust or spray should take care of them.
'Night mites' will require the coop to be thoroughly treated with spray.

 

[MommaHyde]

Thanks everyone. I will do a mite investigation. Sounds like the consensus is molting. I knew they were due for it just didn’t realize it looked that intense. All girls seem active and happy so no concern as of right now on health.

 

[aart]

just didn’t realize it looked that intense.

How about this for 'intense'?

 

[MommaHyde]

How about this for 'intense'?
View attachment 1540482

Oh my goodness! That IS intense! Lol

 

[50-45-1]

It looks like both to me.
The orange bird looks like molt, as new feathers are coming in uniformly.
The barred rock looks plucked to me.
I had a red Hen once that always roosted beside my rooster, and would pluck his beautiful hackle feathers on whichever side she was on. It looked like your barred hen.