Two chickens with feather loss = ??

[khind]

I'm at a loss. Tiny flock of 4 chickens - 3 hens, 1 rooster. Today will be the third and last of consecutive (weekly) permethrin treatments I'm doing to the coop and birds for what I'd suspected must be mites. But still today, it's only 1 - my rooster - who's losing feathers on a daily basis. I find about 10 feathers of his / day, and the area of his body on which feather loss is easily visible is at the base of his tail. (There was initially 1 other chicken losing feathers in that same area along with him, but it seems clear now that her long-standing bare spot is actually due to my roo mounting her - she's his favorite.) So now, what comes to mind is depluming mite. But wouldn't that spread to whole flock if it's affecting one of them? They all eat Layena layer crumble, have all-day access to the outdoors, and they do walk around and forage on a daily basis. Good energy, seem healthy, except that I did see dried poop bottoms on the rooster and two other hens, one of which has nver lost feathers during this whole process! Here are pics of Roo, taken a couple weeks ago, but the issue is still going on: Roo is about 8 months old; I got him as a 4-month-old in March. Thank you!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

He could be going through a molt, or even a lightning of his coat due to the heat. He looks healthy to me.

Your rooster would be better off not eating a layer ration. All that calcium can be hard on any birds that aren't actively laying. I recommend a non medicated starter grower or an All Flock ration with a separate bowl of oyster shells for the calcium needs of any laying hens.

 

[lisaparksdurant]

I'm at a loss. Tiny flock of 4 chickens - 3 hens, 1 rooster. Today will be the third and last of consecutive (weekly) permethrin treatments I'm doing to the coop and birds for what I'd suspected must be mites. But still today, it's only 1 - my rooster - who's losing feathers on a daily basis. I find about 10 feathers of his / day, and the area of his body on which feather loss is easily visible is at the base of his tail. (There was initially 1 other chicken losing feathers in that same area along with him, but it seems clear now that her long-standing bare spot is actually due to my roo mounting her - she's his favorite.) So now, what comes to mind is depluming mite. But wouldn't that spread to whole flock if it's affecting one of them? They all eat Layena layer crumble, have all-day access to the outdoors, and they do walk around and forage on a daily basis. Good energy, seem healthy, except that I did see dried poop bottoms on the rooster and two other hens, one of which has nver lost feathers during this whole process! Here are pics of Roo, taken a couple weeks ago, but the issue is still going on: View attachment 1844868 View attachment 1844869 Roo is about 8 months old; I got him as a 4-month-old in March. Thank you!

I have the same type of issue going on with two of my hens right now. I have 5 birds and 2 are rapidly losiing feathers and have stopped laying. They seem normal otherwise. Its really hot here and I was wondering if heat would cause feathers to fall out. If so, why wouldn't they fall out of the other three? I'm stumped and fairly concerned.

 

[khind]

He could be going through a molt, or even a lightning of his coat due to the heat. He looks healthy to me.

Your rooster would be better off not eating a layer ration. All that calcium can be hard on any birds that aren't actively laying. I recommend a non medicated starter grower or an All Flock ration with a separate bowl of oyster shells for the calcium needs of any laying hens.

Thank you. A molt also occurred to me, but I first noticed it probably 4 weeks ago, but it could've been going on a couple weeks before that. And also the only place it's visibly noticeable is at the base of the tail... plus the fact that we're in the dead of summer. Does any of that change the possibility of a molt? On the other hand as I said, I got him at 4 months old in March so could he be starting his first molt just kind of off-season? I've only ever had chickens that molted in the spring and fall.
And thank you for the information about the food. One of the first things I actually inquired about in talking with some other local Chicken Keepers is whether the rooster eats something different than the hens. And they all feed their rooster the same thing as the hens!

 

[khind]

Lisaparksdurant, isn't it funny that animals with fur shed during the hot season, while Birds typically molt during fall & spring? I mean I know that birds are not mammals and there's a logical reason for that, but I would have thought that in the Oklahoma heat where I am, losing some feathers might bring some relief. But I agree with you - why would there only be some who are shedding feathers and others not?

 

[khind]

I have the same type of issue going on with two of my hens right now. I have 5 birds and 2 are rapidly losiing feathers and have stopped laying. They seem normal otherwise. Its really hot here and I was wondering if heat would cause feathers to fall out. If so, why wouldn't they fall out of the other three? I'm stumped and fairly concerned.

On the other hand, have you checked for worms? Especially since two of them are not laying. Maybe they have a warm load that hasn't accumulated in the others yet?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Thank you. A molt also occurred to me, but I first noticed it probably 4 weeks ago, but it could've been going on a couple weeks before that. And also the only place it's visibly noticeable is at the base of the tail... plus the fact that we're in the dead of summer. Does any of that change the possibility of a molt? On the other hand as I said, I got him at 4 months old in March so could he be starting his first molt just kind of off-season? I've only ever had chickens that molted in the spring and fall.
And thank you for the information about the food. One of the first things I actually inquired about in talking with some other local Chicken Keepers is whether the rooster eats something different than the hens. And they all feed their rooster the same thing as the hens!

I have noticed molts as early as the end of July in years past. Some of my birds are missing feathers from general wear and tear. It can be pretty normal this time of year. You could be seeing the beginning of a molt. In general roosters will molt before hens, and sometimes will molt again later in the year.

I used to feed a layer and my roosters would be dead by 4 years old. In my bantam flock I always fed a non medicated starter grower. Those roosters lived longer. Since I switched off a layer my roosters, especially the larger ones live longer.

 

[Kathy Golla]

Feeding roosters layer ration ultimately causes kidney failure.

 

[AmyJane725]

His comb is looking pretty dark at the back...

 

[Aunt Angus]

I was just going to post about his comb, too.