Help!

[Heidi_Fincher]

Can anyone advise what’s going on here?

I thought my flock had depluming mites about a month or so ago because a bunch of down feathers were missing by their vents and they were pecked bad above all their tail feathers. I treated with Elector PSP inside and then used a blow dryer to dry them off, since it’s winter.

Didn’t seem to see any issues after, but now just noticed this gal’s head. One of my other girls has a completely bare back from before, so I’m wondering if it’s all related. I’ve also dusted them multiple times over the last 3 months with Saturday Lime. Could all the feather loss force a molt?

Any advice appreciated. I’ve been dealing with this issue for months and new issues keep popping up. They were all hatched last spring.
I’ll include a picture of my gal that has a bare back from shortly after treating with PSP.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

You have all hens?

It doesn't look like a parasite problem, it looks like a mounting and/or picking/plucking problem.

The feather loss on the head is typical loss of being mounted, as it the bare back.

You have 1 or more hens mounting the others and rubbing/picking the feathers off.


As suggested on in your other threads, you can put Pinless Peepers on the one(s) that are causing the issues, you could rehome the offender, etc. Saddles may help protect a bare back.

Feathers usually will regrow at molt.


https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/tail-feather-pecking.1644324/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/hen-saddles.1647447/

 

[Heidi_Fincher]

You have all hens?

It doesn't look like a parasite problem, it looks like a mounting and/or picking/plucking problem.

The feather loss on the head is typical loss of being mounted, as it the bare back.

You have 1 or more hens mounting the others and rubbing/picking the feathers off.


As suggested on in your other threads, you can put Pinless Peepers on the one(s) that are causing the issues, you could rehome the offender, etc. Saddles may help protect a bare back.

Feathers usually will regrow at molt.


https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/tail-feather-pecking.1644324/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/hen-saddles.1647447/

I have all hens. And all my hens have some amount of feather loss. So I don’t think it’s a bully? Unless this is a new and unrelated issue!