Thoughts ? On why she looks this awful? Feather problem 😔

[esme13]

Hi everyone , I have been trying to understand what on earth is going on with this Easter egger hen. She started looking awful in the spring, like she got caught somewhere. But she still looks awful and the feathers look raw at the ends of her neck and tail. The flock was small when this all started and they have a lot of room to roam. Everyone else’s feathers (4 hens left at 1 year old) all look beautiful and shiny and healthy.

the Easter egger looks like she had a ring neck at one point. I don’t see bugs, this coop looks very clean. I don’t see anything on her or the other hens feathers. The coop is hardwire, so no other wild birds can get in. I’m thinking she’s being picked on, but is this normal for a hen to be picked on to look like This? And in the neck and tail spot only ?

she was bearded last spring as a pullet too. First photo is now and the fully feathered one is a pullet photo of her last spring.

 

[Boise-girls]

Oh, wow! She definitely looks like she doesn't feel well. I hope someone more experienced can give you some good advice!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Bearded birds often get groomed to the point that the beards get plucked - some of my bearded birds are completely bare 10 months of the year, others run away from being groomed so still have a full beard.

The damage to the tail area is common with feather picking issues. The neck, not so much. No rooster right?

Have you checked her for mites, lice, etc?

 

[Chicalina]

Have you sat and watched your flock and how they behave together? I bet if you spent an hour or two, you'd see exactly who is pecking and bullying her. Also the neck is where the rooster holds on - if you have a rooster maybe he is overmating her.

 

[esme13]

Bearded birds often get groomed to the point that the beards get plucked - some of my bearded birds are completely bare 10 months of the year, others run away from being groomed so still have a full beard.

The damage to the tail area is common with feather picking issues. The neck, not so much. No rooster right?

Have you checked her for mites, lice, etc?

I couldn’t find any mites or lice, I did spray the whole coop and put down garden dust as well as ivermectin. I don’t see anything crawling on this brew. I did add a baby rooster to this coop, but this has been on going and he’s much younger. She stays with the chicks. I’ve sat out there for hrs watching and I don’t see any kind of picking on. She runs away from me and the 3 other older hens. She roosts with them.

Have you sat and watched your flock and how they behave together? I bet if you spent an hour or two, you'd see exactly who is pecking and bullying her. Also the neck is where the rooster holds on - if you have a rooster maybe he is overmating her.

Yes I can seriously spend hours with them, they are very relaxing and a good distraction to my day. I have never seen any of the hens grabbed anyone’s feather. I’ve seen a peck here and there, but that’s it. In the spring the neck part just through me in for a loop hole. I honestly thought maybe she got caught in the automatic door? But it looks bald at the ends of her neck back than and her face. Now it seems all around her neck looks raw closer to her skin. The feathers are damaged, It is strange. Unless it’s microscopic bugs or an allergy ? The other hens are in great feather shape.

 

[esme13]

That is her flock. We have two flocks in two locations. Bearded are my favorite but even with past Easter eggers and other mite problems, I’ve never had a hen look this odd. She’s healthy, very skittish (always has been). She’s the only one I can not grab, because she goes crazy.

 

[JustBabyMargo]

She should grow back all of her feathers after her molt! One of ours looked even worse than that and we had to wait until she molted until she finally grew it all back! If you want to you can get her a chicken cape but if there is no bullying I wouldn’t worry about it!

 

[Chicalina]

My older hens will throw in an opportunistic peck at any youngster who happens to pass by. Like they feel they have to assert their authority. It looks spiteful, but it's just chicken hierarchy. Sometimes they grab a few feathers.

I wonder if, being lower in the pecking order, she has suffered an odd peck here and there and feathers have been broken off, and since she won't regrow broken ones til a moult, it looks worse/takes longer?

But if feathers have been pulled they should regrow. Maybe post some close ups of the neck area.

 

[esme13]

My older hens will throw in an opportunistic peck at any youngster who happens to pass by. Like they feel they have to assert their authority. It looks spiteful, but it's just chicken hierarchy. Sometimes they grab a few feathers.

I wonder if, being lower in the pecking order, she has suffered an odd peck here and there and feathers have been broken off, and since she won't regrow broken ones til a moult, it looks worse/takes longer?

But if feathers have been pulled they should regrow. Maybe post some close ups of the neck area.

I haven’t caught the other hens pecking her. That’s why I’m very confused. She’s very skittish. I am positive she is among the lowest in the pecking order. She has been hanging out with the pullets. This may be happening first thing in the morning ? I am hoping she returns during her molt. At the same time , I want to figure out what’s happening so it doesn’t continue. I’m thinking I might set up a game camera and see if that helps.

 

[Chicalina]

I haven’t caught the other hens pecking her. That’s why I’m very confused. She’s very skittish. I am positive she is among the lowest in the pecking order. She has been hanging out with the pullets. This may be happening first thing in the morning ? I am hoping she returns during her molt. At the same time , I want to figure out what’s happening so it doesn’t continue. I’m thinking I might set up a game camera and see if that helps.

Great idea!