Rhode Island Red that Has broke breast feathers. Area is round and getting bigger. Ideas?

[hugonauts]

HI friends,
I need some help on how to treat my Rhode Island Red. She is just 1 year old. She showed a dime size round broken feather spot on her breast about a month ago. The area is larger now 3" x 3". Ideas on what she may have.
She has never layed eggs either.
I only have 2 hens neither have layed eggs yet. They are both 1 year old.

Help please!

Denise

 

[CMV]

What are they eating? Have you checked for parasites on them? What kind of housing are they kept in? Do they roost?

 

[hugonauts]

They eat a good chicken food (bag~purchased), some scratch, white rice with some bird seed. Vegetables, fruits etc. They are in a large fenced in area with a large wooden coop to sleep in at night. They free range during the day.

I had a friend who has chickens who checked them for parasites. She didn't see any.

They used to roost until we built the new coop which is large and covered. Now both girls like to lay on the ground.

Neither of my chickens have layed an egg yet either. The other chicken is a Barred Rock. The Barred has no sign of feather issues.

Otherwise both chickens act and look beautiful. Behavior great, active.

The feather are broken in half so the soft feathery part is gone.

Denise