Molting or something else?

[kimberjay]

Several of my girls have patches like this. The skin is sometimes bright red other times it looks like their normal skin. I haven't seen any external parasites. I haven't noticed any unusual aggressive behaviors or feather plucking. None of my girls act broody. I allow the to free range for a few hours every day when I am home from work and all day on the weekends. They are given a quality organic food, kale, and a few handfuls of scratch in the mornings. I have only had chickens for a little over a year and I worry that I've missed something important. Please help soothe this worried chicken Mama's fears?

 

[pozees2]

In that last picture I see some broken feathers. I don't see any pin feathers trying to emerge so I don't think they're molting yet, I wonder if mice may be getting into the coop and chewing their feathers at night? Also, in case that's it, that's one way for parasites to invade, so you might want to treat for mites/lice just in case.

 

[kimberjay]

I didn't know about mice chewing on the feathers. Wouldn't the hens feel it and move or try to stop the mice? I will treat my girls for lice. Thanks for the advice.

 

[gnine0326]

I have hens looking like your hens. How do you treat for lice?

 

[Chickassan]

Have you changed roosts lately?

 

[gnine0326]

Have you changed roosts lately?

No, I can’t say I have

 

[Chickassan]

Ok, that rules out them rubbing off patches on roosts unless the ones with patches are substantially heavier than ones without.

No, I can’t say I have