What does this to feathers?

[RescueChicken]

I'll be applying the 4th round of Sevin dust to my chickens today. I have applied it using a stocking as a powder puff. Every 7 days. I have cleaned their coop & run, and dusted it as well. The above photo is what is happening to them. I have checked them at night for lice/mites and seen nothing. They have feathers regrowing but the old feathers are still being broken off. This little guy has it the worst. Has anyone seen this before? Am I jumping the gun on recovery time? New to the chicken world & don't want them suffering.
Any advice or questions welcome.
TIA

 

[BantamLover21]

It looks like the feathers are being eaten by feather mites, but the Sevin should have killed them by now if that was the case. Do all of your chickens have this problem? A nutrient deficiency (maybe not enough protein) is the only other thing i can think of that could cause this abnormal feather growth/condition.

 

[RescueChicken]

Both of my Roosters have this going on. My hens are separated from them, but are still being treated just in case.
The feed is cabbage, carrots, cracked corn, BOSS, oats, red & white millet, dried meal worms and crushed up cat food.
The two Roos are pets. I know insane, but they are good boys. It breaks my heart to see them like this. The picture above is of "Keswick" he also has 2 bald patches at the front edge of his wing feathers, they are raw and scaly looking. Their combs & wattles are in good shape as well as their feet, they seem as cantankerous as usual. Just sorry looking feathers. Wondering if I should get a sulphur treatment for them in case it's this rare mite I read about in this forum. Or I could just be a crazy old chicken lady?!?

 

[BantamLover21]

I'm sorry, but I don't have any other suggestions. The sevin should be killing the mites/lice, and the cat food/mealworms you're giving them are plenty high in protein. A balanced commercial chicken feed might be a little better, though. Hopefully someone with more experience comes along!

 

[RescueChicken]

Thank you! Doing some late night reading on feather mites.

 

[RescueChicken]

Is ivermectin 1% injectable a good treatment for depluming mites? Been treating with Sevin dust and seeing little improvement.

 

[Folly's place]

Balanced rations are best, especially if the birds don't free range in a large area. Who knows how balanced that diet is? Are the new feathers also breaking, or only the old ones? Do you have birds pecking/eating the feathers? Sevin will kill mites and lice, as will Ivermectin. If only the old feathers are involved, maybe they are too damaged, but the new ones will be fine. Mary

 

[RescueChicken]

The diet seems to be fine. Forgot to add they get layer crumbles. My three hens are beautiful, AND separated from the affected Roos. The Roos combs & wattles are red. My concern is I've never seen the mites. I've done the white sheet trick to try and see what falls off & nothing. Been in at night with a flashlight checking vents. Nothing. Could be the feathers are damaged and won't look good until they molt. They do have new feathers growing in where they had bald patches, but some are being eaten off before they fully develop.
I hate mites!!!! Especially when I can't see them. The Roos are still preening a lot, ruffling their feathers and shaking themselves off like dogs more often than usual. Which leads me to think I still have a mite problem. Yesterday was treatment #4 with Sevin. Sprayed the entire coop with Sevin spray, used a concoction on all the wood roosts, water, oil and dawn Dishwashing liquid and a bit of Sevin. Tossed the bedding, laid out DE, Sevin then new litter & stirred it. Have done that every 7 days for a month. I'm at wits end. I'm sure the Roos are too. I have not seen them eat their feathers or pull out each other's feathers. That's what I thought it was at first but after observing them, no, that was when I went straight for the Sevin dust. I think it's gonna be a long summer.

 

[RescueChicken]

Finally got a handle on this problem. Ivermectin (Ivomec) in their water seems to have done the trick. The boys have new feathers growing in and they aren't itching & scratching constantly.
Whew!! Just in time for the 100+ degree weather.

 

[RonP]

What was the cause?

Finally got a handle on this problem. Ivermectin (Ivomec) in their water seems to have done the trick. The boys have new feathers growing in and they aren't itching & scratching constantly.
Whew!! Just in time for the 100+ degree weather.