Not an emergency.. but need help.. bald necks/vents?

[texaspoontappa]

I have 5 black australorp hens, 2 Isa Brown hens, 1 white leghorn hen, and 1 amberlinks hen in my flock. 4 of my black australorp hens are missing feathers on their necks and butt area. It's been several months and I can start to see new feathers coming in, but do you think this is feather pecking? Why would it be just the 4 black ones and no one else? I have observed them closely and haven't seen any feather pecking. I wouldnt even know who to separate from the flock if it was feather pecking.. Can you look at the pics and tell me if it looks like feather pecking and what I can do to help them? No one else in the flock is having this issue and the 4 that have it all have varying degrees of severity, the one pictured is the worst one. Thank you.

 

[MilesFluffybutt]

Have you examined them for any creepy crawlies - lice, mites, etc?

 

[ChickNanny13]

2x MilesFluffybutt, have you checked for mites? Lice?
What are you feeding? How old are they?

@aart @azygous @dawg53 @WVduckchick @Wyorp Rock @Texas Kiki
Thank you all in advance. The neck "pattern" is interesting

 

[The Phantom]

Mites?

 

[getaclue]

I'd be checking for mites/lice first. It could also be bullying. My ISA's were bullies.

 

[getaclue]

If it's mites, and I suspect it is, yes it's serious.

 

[PirateGirl]

This is my favorite article with great close up photos to help you identify any of these pests on your birds...

https://the-chicken-chick.com/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification/

 

[sourland]

If it were mites, I would expect to see the entire flock impacted. Check for mites, but my guess is that the most pristine looking bird/birds is/are feather plucking the Australorps.

 

[azygous]

How old are these scroungy-looking twerps? Have they ever had a fall molt yet? The curious fact that only the Australorps are affected points to a possible genetics cause.

The reason I think this is because I have a scroungy-looking twerp in my flock of 21, and she's the only one who looks like this. She's a Cream Legbar/EE mix and she went two years before she had her first molt. She has never had a fall molt. Her first molt was last June. I'm still waiting for her to have her second molt. She is beyond frowzy. She looks like a chicken joke for a bad hair day.

 

[aart]

How old are these scroungy-looking twerps? Have they ever had a fall molt yet? The curious fact that only the Australorps are affected points to a possible genetics cause.

Was wondering the same....and where did you get them?
I have a few that look similar but not nearly as bare, just some backs and necks...have no idea why.