Prickly Head Hen

Chichin Mama

Making lemonade 🍋🐣
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Hello, I have a Mille Fleur D'ccle hen who is having troubles with head feathers.

As far as I am aware, it is only her head that is suffering a loss of feathers. I am unsure of the cause of this loss of feathers, and I'm hoping someone on here can help me out with probable causes of why she has this issue and how I can resolve it.

I have attached photos and the best way to describe it is that she has a bunch of prickly feather shafts where fluffy feathers should be. She has developed this problem in the past couple weeks to a month. What worries me is that this problem has persisted and she never seems to grow the feathers back in. Her muffs don't seem affected at all.

She is bottom of the pecking order, and I do have a couple of barred rock hens that are assertive and can be a nuisance. They've never drawn blood or anything, and I keep multiple feeders and waterers, as well as multiple hiding places available to help avoid bullying. However, if this were bullying, I would think that it would be bald skin instead a bunch of feather shafts.

I also have one Mille Fleur D'ccle rooster in my flock. However, she is only having this trouble on her head, and I would think if it was over mating, that she would be missing back feathers as well.

She is a very happy, active little chicken. Is it possible this could be mites?

Any help or ideas are welcomed!!
 

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@Wyorp Rock

Thank you so much! I tried gently pulling the feather shafts off, and almost immediately they started coming off. She now has her fluffy head back and I am no longer worried. Thank you!
 
@Wyorp Rock

Thank you so much! I tried gently pulling the feather shafts off, and almost immediately they started coming off. She now has her fluffy head back and I am no longer worried. Thank you!
I bet she's even more lovely now:)
 

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