Super frayed tailed feathers

[FunnyBunny89]

Hi, I have this recurring thing and I don't know if it's an issue or not. My oldest hens are only 1 year old, and they all molted back in Nov/Dec. Some of the younger hens are anywhere between 8-11 months old. I usually look at their feathers to monitor their health, and we have been through bouts of tapeworm, lice, and coccidiosis, but lately things have been pretty good. Nonetheless, a few of my girls have these really messed up looking feathers. I used to think it was from being in the nesting boxes but that doesn't seem to be the case. My Wyandotte has ruffled feathers all over and she hasn't molted yet, but the others pictured have gone through mild molts and their tails were beautiful until recently. I am treating the flock for coccidiosis right now because a bunch of foamy yellow poops were showing up, and I have had success with Corid in the past. We are already 5 days into treatment and Edna only just started looking rough two days ago. Otherwise, behavior, appetites and egg laying is all normal.

Any other idea what could be causing this?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

How close to the wall are your roosts?

 

[FunnyBunny89]

How close to the wall are your roosts?

They're not at all.

 

[FunnyBunny89]

How close to the wall are your roosts?

Could it be the rooster when he mates with them???

 

[aart]

They're not at all.

What does this mean?
How many inches from roost to wall?
Pics would help here, of coop and run.

 

[FunnyBunny89]

What does this mean?
How many inches from roost to wall?
Pics would help here, of coop and run.

They are not close to a wall, is what I meant. I'm not there to take pics but the roosts are in the middle of an 8x9 coop. They are not near any walls except on the ends where they're attached, but the chickens sides face those walls and they don't usually sleep near them.

 

[FunnyBunny89]

What does this mean?
How many inches from roost to wall?
Pics would help here, of coop and run.

Here is screenshot from my coop cam.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They're not at all.

Do these hens spend a lot of time in the nest boxes? Generally frayed feathers is because they are rubbing on something. Some mites can make feathers brittle so I would check them over for external parasites.

In your photo the roosts do come together at one end. If they are roosting there they be rubbing.

 

[FunnyBunny89]

Do these hens spend a lot of time in the nest boxes? Generally frayed feathers is because they are rubbing on something. Some mites can make feathers brittle so I would check them over for external parasites.

In your photo the roosts do come together at one end. If they are roosting there they be rubbing.

Ah I didn't think of that. I will check them over tonight but they were clear last week when I last checked. That gap is still 13 inches apart, it's just hard to tell from the angle in the pic.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Ah I didn't think of that. I will check them over tonight but they were clear last week when I last checked. That gap is still 13 inches apart, it's just hard to tell from the angle in the pic.

Just a thought. It does look like the ones that are frayed have longer tail feathers. Maybe see where they roost at night, and see if they are on that end. Other chickens could be picking at the feathers too on the roosts.