Old Hens - Tattered, Broken, Ugly feathers + balding

[JacobMaxwell]

All of my five older hens (about 3 yrs) have really bad feathers. Their feathers are tattered, broken, and and hens are balding in places. They don't seem to be preening at all. is their anything to do about this?

 

[Eggcessive]

Do you have a rooster who is overmating them? First I would pick them up and look them over for signs of mites or lice next to the skin, especially under the vent. Treat with 5% sevin dust or permethrin. Lice eggs are white, mite dust is gray. Some mites only come out in the dark, and hide in the coop cracks during the day. Give them at least 16-20% well balanced chicken feed, and put some poultry vitamins in their water for a week or two. I would also suggest that you give them a place for regular dust bathing. Here are some links to help you:
http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/pdf/8162.pdf
http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme-fact/0018.html

 

[JacobMaxwell]

Thanks for your help!