Tattered and Missing Feathers

[mv17]

Does anyone know what could be causing these hens to have bald spots and such tattered feathers? They are about one year old right now. I have not seen mites on them when I check. Any ideas?

 

[nuthatched]

It's being picked by the others.

 

[mv17]

Could it be an insect infestation or is it pretty obviously a plucking problem?

 

[coach723]

If you put some sticky tape around the ends of your roosts, with the sticky side out, check in the morning to see if anything is stuck to the tape. Some kinds of mites will hide in the coop and only come out at night to feed on the birds.
How many birds do you have and how much space, both coop and run, and how much roosting space? Over crowding and boredom is often the cause of feather picking. When birds have bare butts, it's often happening on the roosts.

 

[mv17]

Definitely will try out the tape trick tonight. For our 14 hens, we have 16 ft of roosting space, 80 sq ft of coop space, 120 sq ft of run space, and 6 nesting boxes (however it seems they only use one maybe two of them). We try and free range them for a little bit each day when the weather is warmer but since it has been winter they have not been let out of the run/coop in a while.