Parasite, molting, or bully?

[Slg140]

I have some hens who are about 5 1/2 months old. They all have these patches on your back where the feathers are thin and fuzzy. I’ve checked them over and I don’t see any signs of parasites. My older hens look fine. Is it molting?

 

[4 ever Orpington]

I have some hens who are about 5 1/2 months old. They all have these patches on your back where the feathers are thin and fuzzy. I’ve checked them over and I don’t see any signs of parasites. My older hens look fine. Is it molting?

 

[4 ever Orpington]

Do you have a rooster

 

[Slg140]

I don’t believe so. Some of them aren’t laying yet, but no one looks like a roo and I’ve seen no mating.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

That's not where I *usually* see bullying. But could be. Are some girls looking pristine? Are these ladies lower in the pecking order that you can tell?

You can best check for parasites after dark using a flashlight and part feathers near the vent to look for anything running away. Some things don't live on the bird and only come out to feed n them at night from cracks in the wood.

Mind if I ask... how many birds in how much coop/run/roost space and what do you feed including treats and supplements? Also, what breeds are they? Sometimes these can be helpful clues. Molting should not be an issue at their stated age.

You'd probably see some antics or shenanigans going on if there was a boy hiding in the group by now.

Good luck getting it figured out.

 

[4 ever Orpington]

I don’t believe so. Some of them aren’t laying yet, but no one looks like a roo and I’ve seen no mating.

I had some in my flock around six months that looked similar. My seven month old Cockeral and my boss hen both were trying to mount them. Causing feather damage. May not be your issue. Good luck figuring it out.

 

[Slg140]

I went out last night to look at them again and found the problem! My older girls sleep on the top roost bar and the younger girls the next bar down, the older girls were pecking at their back feathers from the top bar. Maybe some winter boredom or a protein issue. We’ll add some toys and protein and see what happens!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I went out last night to look at them again and found the problem! My older girls sleep on the top roost bar and the younger girls the next bar down, the older girls were pecking at their back feathers from the top bar. Maybe some winter boredom or a protein issue. We’ll add some toys and protein and see what happens!

I researched this whole protein claim...

Turns out feathers actually have a very LOW digestibility being mostly keratin. So I'm a giant nutrition monger and I truly believe feather pecking gets blamed on protein way more often then that is the reality.

I too have had a hen that mounted other ladies.

Awesome that you discovered the likely cause! Good looking out. Maybe move the roost farther apart? For my flock, no amount of boredom busters or protein is going influence roost time behavior. I provide 20-22% protein (not diminished by treats such as scratch), full time free range on (good not dry) pasture, dirt baths and all.

Do your girls have a night light? Sometimes seeing to well makes it worse.

Sounds like you'll get it figured out! Those feathers may not get nice looking again until molt.