Rooster (and some hens) Loosing Feathers...

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I here that, but again...It's been that way for over a year and a half and this is kind of a sudden onset of symptoms...Are you suggesting it's pecking from too much light???

Could be. Not having a proper dark to light ratio could make them more agitated, and gives them hours of sitting in a coop with nothing to do. Why do you run a light for so long?

Could you share some pictures of them in their current state? I have had lots of hard molting birds this year, more than I usually see. They don't always molt the same from year to year. Extra lighting can cause goofy molts too.

 

[Mrs. K]

sounds like a hard molt to me.

 

[aart]

I have several birds that pick each others feathers off of faces...especially the EE's.
They just stand there and accept it <shrugs> crazy chickens.

This situation is probably a combination of things...
Too much light, why so much, are you using a timer?

Crowding, how big is your coop in feet by feet?
Could be why it didn't happen last year, more space per bird.

Low protein, especially animal protein. Feathers are yummy and full of protein.
What and how exactly are you feeding?

 

[Mrs. K]

I had hens that would pick a roosters muff. He let them, it was bizarre.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Who would pick feathers off the rooster or from under a hen's chin???

Roosters are genetically predispositioned to tolerate a lot from his flock of hens. Including eating the rooster's feathers. If the tail or neck hackles look like they have been pulled through a hair curler, you can be 100% sure that you have a feather eating problem.

A list of the things that you feed your flock, and in what amounts may prove useful.