JuanitaWilson
In the Brooder
- Sep 29, 2025
- 7
- 16
- 27
Hi, thanks for reading! I have 6 hens and 1 rooster. One of my hens, is plucking out her own feathers, mostly around her chin area. Even to the point of bleeding. And some along the side of her body.
She is our special girl and has always been a bit different. She had a split/deformed beak that has corrected itself over time, and she is the lowest in the pecking order it seems. We've witnessed only mild bullying. Chasing her away from treats mostly, but never injuring or drawing blood or missing feathers on her back or top of her neck.
She is the smallest and sometimes I wonder if she can't absorb nutrients as well as the other hens. Maybe she just doesn't have the best health? She's small and had a beak defect... ? I give them scrambled eggs with oregano and garlic every now and then, I will try adding more protein supplements like this.
They have a more than an adequate, secure coop and are free range on 5 acres, so I don't think it's boredom. She is the only one displaying this symptom. She is still laying every day.
It started several weeks ago - early to mid January. Does this look like mites?? I have inspected her and a couple of the other hens, but I don't see anything moving. I found and successfully treated lice last year, but I don't have experience with mites. Any suggestions or thoughts would be appreciated! Photos attached!
She is our special girl and has always been a bit different. She had a split/deformed beak that has corrected itself over time, and she is the lowest in the pecking order it seems. We've witnessed only mild bullying. Chasing her away from treats mostly, but never injuring or drawing blood or missing feathers on her back or top of her neck.
She is the smallest and sometimes I wonder if she can't absorb nutrients as well as the other hens. Maybe she just doesn't have the best health? She's small and had a beak defect... ? I give them scrambled eggs with oregano and garlic every now and then, I will try adding more protein supplements like this.
They have a more than an adequate, secure coop and are free range on 5 acres, so I don't think it's boredom. She is the only one displaying this symptom. She is still laying every day.
It started several weeks ago - early to mid January. Does this look like mites?? I have inspected her and a couple of the other hens, but I don't see anything moving. I found and successfully treated lice last year, but I don't have experience with mites. Any suggestions or thoughts would be appreciated! Photos attached!
