Some type of bug? Or hen-pecked?

[BirdGuy2018]

Hi all - Three of hens look like moulting but has been going on for a month or so.

One has this region at base of tail feathers where the feathers have been eaten away in some fashion. All that is left is the quill of the feather and instead of feeling soft, the base feels hard and stiff.

Can some sort of parasite be doing this? I also have a gander that can be a jerk and he may be picking on her.

 

[Evelyn's Mom]

following... I have a RIR with a bare tail base, too...

 

[karissapaul]

if she is being eaten you should separate her or start giving your chickens calcium. chickens usually start going cannable when they don't have enough calcium in their diet

 

[dawg53]

Since your 3 hens are in molt, you should see feathers laying around on the ground all over the place. If you dont see feathers on the ground, they are being eaten which would suggest a lack of protein in their diet. Also, if feathers are broken off on the chicken, there could be a feather picker.
Observe your birds for a feather picker and cull it. The others will learn from the feather picker and will start doing the same thing.
Buy a sack of gamebird feed at the feed store and give it to you chickens to eat. It is much higher in protein and will help with feather regrowth. Once feathers are regrown, wean them off the gamebird feed back to regular layer feed.

 

[BirdGuy2018]

Sounds good on gamebird feed. Have not caught anyone picking at her. Is not lice or any sort of parasite? That might cause her to peck at her own tail?

 

[dawg53]

Sounds good on gamebird feed. Have not caught anyone picking at her. Is not lice or any sort of parasite? That might cause her to peck at her own tail?

Pick your hens up one at a time and closely inspect them for external parasites especially around the vent area. Lice are white or off white or straw in color and move quickly through feathers and fluff. You may see lice eggs clustered at the base of feather shafts.
Mites look like red or black pepper, are slow movers or dont move at all. They suck blood and can cause anemia, then death. They are eight legged, lice are 6 legged.
Molt times vary with mini molts to full blown molts, anywhere from a few weeks to several months. They appear ragged and ratty looking, are usually grouchy and dont want nothing to do with you.