Tail losing feathers

[chunandsnuggles]

My hen's tail has weird feathers that look like they're half gone. I heard it could be parasites, but I put diatomaceous earth in their feed so wouldn't they not have any?

 

[Chickinie]

hi, could it be from rubbing on something? Does she roost with her tail touching something?

 

[333113]

If she is younger than a year old, she may be molting her teenager feathers so that her new adult feathers can come in.

If she is older than a year, some chickens molt yearly, some every other year.

If you pick her up and look at her vent area, you can see mites if she has them. Depending on the type of mite, you may see little tiny bugs running around on her skin, or you may see clumps of white fuzz at the base of some of her feathers. In either case, you can treat with a miticide.

 

[chunandsnuggles]

hi, could it be from rubbing on something? Does she roost with her tail touching something?

she sleeps in the nesting box and her tail presses against the wall, maybe thats it, thanks!

 

[chunandsnuggles]

If she is younger than a year old, she may be molting her teenager feathers so that her new adult feathers can come in.

If she is older than a year, some chickens molt yearly, some every other year.

If you pick her up and look at her vent area, you can see mites if she has them. Depending on the type of mite, you may see little tiny bugs running around on her skin, or you may see clumps of white fuzz at the base of some of her feathers. In either case, you can treat with a miticide.

I don't see any mites, but she's 14 months and I don't think she's molted yet so maybe that's it, thanks

 

[Chickinie]

she sleeps in the nesting box and her tail presses against the wall, maybe thats it, thanks!

Haha. I'd say that's it! You can tell by how it has rubbed and stripped to the spine of the feather, and I can't quite tell by the photo but I'm guessing most have snapped off. All her other feathers look nice.

At least she knows how to keep comfortable.

Just for future reference, when they are in nest boxes for a long time, say, while clucky or sleeping, and they do get mites, they get ABSOLUTELY infested with them!!! If any had mites, you'd find a trillion on her.