Rough patch on feathers

[Jackson F]

Does anyone know the cause of the rough patch on this hens feathers?

 

[sourland]

A flock mate is over grooming/feather plucking her.

 

[alinas2010]

Agree on getting plucked. It’s a common spot for them to pull at each others feathers when they’re being snippy. Is she low on the pecking order? She looks like she has some scabs on her ears and comb, too.

Similarly, our lowest hen had feathers missing at a time from that area.

 

[Jackson F]

Agree on getting plucked. It’s a common spot for them to pull at each others feathers when they’re being snippy. Is she low on the pecking order? She looks like she has some scabs on her ears and comb, too.

Similarly, our lowest hen had feathers missing at a time from that area.

We have 4 older hens (2years) and this hen is one of the 4 newer hens (8 months). Around 3 of the birds have experienced some feather loss as seen on my other post. The scabs on her comb are when she was first introduced.

 

[alinas2010]

We have 4 older hens (2years) and this hen is one of the 4 newer hens (8 months). Around 3 of the birds have experienced some feather loss as seen on my other post. The scabs on her comb are when she was first introduced.

Be sure to give them all a really good once over for mites and lice if you haven’t already. Check warm spots like under the wings and the vent. If the other ones look similar, it could point to the older ones pulling on their feathers as @sourland suggested. Not uncommon when introducing new chickens.

 

[Jackson F]

I’ll make sure to check for the mites and lice. However I don’t really think it’s from bullying do to the younger birds already being integrated for at around 4 months now. I’m currently in process of installing some cameras in the coop and the pasture to better monitor them in the future.

 

[alinas2010]

I’ll make sure to check for the mites and lice. However I don’t really think it’s from bullying do to the younger birds already being integrated for at around 4 months now. I’m currently in process of installing some cameras in the coop and the pasture to better monitor them in the future.

Let us know what you find when you inspect them. Hopefully the cameras help.

 

[Jackson F]

Let us know what you find when you inspect them. Hopefully the cameras help.

After a good look at the the affected chickens vents, under the wings and where the feathers are missing, there was no sign of any lice or mites. I’m going to get those cameras installed soon to see if it’s just feather picking.