In the spring I noticed that my rooster was being mean to my original 4 girls, thought he was the reason why they were starting to loose some back feathers, put him in freezer camp. I thought that their feathers would grow back, but they didn't. I checked and checked but couldn't find bugs, not sure what is going on, It is getting worse. We've raised 37 babies this spring/summer and all has gone well with the integration. They seem fine and all free range together. I have dusted them with poultry dust twice in the past month. Tonight since it rained and they were wet, I bathed the 3 girls. They are still eating and laying. And I bought DE this month too. Might have to go all out cleaning and disinfecting everything around the chickens. Maybe I am missing something.......... Here is a picture after the bath, she is the worst. What can I do to help them out?
i can think of 4 possibilities 1) lice or mites..but you say you dusted with poultry dust so i doubt its this 2) they are moulting? but i cant see any new feather growth 3) it was damage from the rooster...but the feathers wont grow back until the next time the girls moult 4)someone is featherpicking! could it be possible one of your girls is picking the feathers off the others??
Could be feather picking. Going to clean coops real good soon. Is there anything I can put on her bare spot? It doesn't look as irritated today, now that her other feathers are dry. They cover up most of the bald spot. *(EDIT) And as for the one on the right, we have 36 new 5 month olds. They all look healthy.
