Question about feathers missing plumes

[imthedude]

Hi all. Cross-post from the Homesteading Today forum to hopefully pick up more audience for my question.

Question re: feathers missing plumes.

A couple of my Delaware hens have something strange going on. The very interior feathers on their wings are down to a feather shaft with no plumes on it. One of them has tail feathers doing the same thing. They had clipped wings if that helps.

Is this a result of molting where the feathers will eventually drop out, could it be caused by mites of some sort, or is it something altogether different?

TIA

 

[DTchickens]

I would check for mites and feather picking; sometimes birds will peck the tails when feathering picking and give that look. Other times though I would mainly check for mites. Molting drops the whole feather and grows a new one in its place, it doesn't give that look.