Serious Problem, Losing feathers on back, wings and vent HELP!

[Uncle Marc]

I've posted about this before. My chickens (I have 18 hens and 1 rooster) seem to have lost feathers, down to the skin, on their backs in front of tail, some tail feathers and some on the wings and around the vent. Others have suggested this is a lice or mite problem. I've cleaned the coop, used a bunch of DE and cleared the nesting boxes, new nests and DE in them as well.

Can't seem to eliminate the problem.

Any ideas?

 

[Quail Keeper]

It may be that the rooster is over mating with certain hens. Mine have a "saddle back" which is like the exact same thing you are describing.

 

[snowflake]

wing and back feather loss really sounds like rooster damage, often on the head to were he grabs the hen to hold on. you could get an apron, may be a pattern on her someplace. and I know there are a few that sell them. you can get them with wing protectors. You can also dull your roosters toe nails with a file or clippers or dremell tool.

if it is lice or mites you may need to use something stronger then DE to get rid of them, You usually can see them on the chicken if you look close. some only come out at night but I have read you can wipe the bottom of the roost and get a red smudge as they are blood suckers