Not an emergency, bald patches?

[Kris5902]

I’m not sure if they are coming out of molt or if there’s something else to be concerned about like depluming mites. I’ve relocated 7 hens, about 15-18 months and one about 2 1/2 years. They have some bald patches I’m not sure about. I’m treating the older one with ivermectin for SLM and dealing with a leg injury. Does this look right for a molt? They are all still laying, with bright combs. They are somewhat underweight. They were on a fairly poor diet...17% layer mixed 50-50 with whole wheat. I’m now feeding them a higher protein/fat broiler mixed 50/50 with the layer. The older hen is getting wet feed mixed with an egg as she doesn’t seem to be drinking enough, and wasn’t eating at first. I’m hoping it will help with the feathers, and body condition, if there isn’t another factor at play.

Here are some pics of the older hen, the others are SLM free, but also very patchy in the feathers. They were in separate coops. I’m a novice, and have never observed a full or partial molt. So if that’s all this is I will be greatly relieved.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

concerned about like depluming mites. I’ve relocated 7 hens, about 15-18 months and one about 2 1/2 years. They have some bald patches I’m not sure about. I’m treating the older one with ivermectin for SLM and dealing with a leg injury. Does this look right for a molt? They are all still laying, with bright combs.

I see some broken feathers there too, but really no new growth coming in.
Could be from being plucked. Feathers that are damaged/broken will not be replaced until molt. If they are all still laying, then likely they are not molting.
If you are concerned it's Depluming mites the Ivermectin would treat those. I don't know how you feel about using it, but if all 7 have similar patches, then I would treat all of them, no need to treat just one.

 

[Kris5902]

I’m not “supposed” to be treating the ones I “borrowed” to keep one of my Cockerels a bit more manageable. With anything that has an egg witholding time. The “owners” prime concern was not losing her eggs ... which is why she hasn’t ok’d the ivermectin for the others with really bad SLM. I may only use it on ones I’ve proven aren’t laying, or that I take due to major injury.

If they were mine they’d have been dosed already. I’m trying to transition into sole management of all the chickens here. I’m slowly rescuing/stealing the chickens that are being poorly managed here... my eggs are only 65 grams, these red production girls produce ones twice as large, so I can’t even just give her my eggs instead.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I’m not “supposed” to be treating the ones I “borrowed” to keep one of my Cockerels a bit more manageable. With anything that has an egg witholding time. The “owners” prime concern was not losing her eggs ... which is why she hasn’t ok’d the ivermectin for the others with really bad SLM. I may only use it on ones I’ve proven aren’t laying, or that I take due to major injury.

If they were mine they’d have been dosed already. I’m trying to transition into sole management of all the chickens here. I’m slowly rescuing/stealing the chickens that are being poorly managed here... my eggs are only 65 grams, these red production girls produce ones twice as large, so I can’t even just give her my eggs instead.

Gotcha.
Well...it could be a space/pecking issue too if these are the ones that are mismanaged?
The skin doesn't look so irritated to me that I would immediately "think" Depluming mites, but you never know. From what I understand about that type of mites the chicken will actually cause themselves harm, deep wounds/digging at themselves if a Depluming mites infestation is severe.
Can you dust them at all? I'd try that, increase space if possible and see how it goes. You are correcting the food. Feather loss is usually going to be there until they molt.

 

[Kris5902]

Gotcha.
Well...it could be a space/pecking issue too if these are the ones that are mismanaged?
The skin doesn't look so irritated to me that I would immediately "think" Depluming mites, but you never know. From what I understand about that type of mites the chicken will actually cause themselves harm, deep wounds/digging at themselves if a Depluming mites infestation is severe.
Can you dust them at all? I'd try that, increase space if possible and see how it goes. You are correcting the food. Feather loss is usually going to be there until they molt.

Thanks for the reassurance, some of the others do have redness in places, I can dust them... I’ll just observe closely and be patient, I’m thinking they molted over winter, then maybe because of the stress and low protein in the feed the feathers didn’t come in properly?

The others I have chickennapped back in December and January are looking much better, even with their reproductive issues. Feathers are full and beautiful on them so it’s probably nothing, I just want to make sure no nasties migrate to my girls!

 

[Kris5902]

@Wyorp Rock Some better pictures... of a less than willing subject, this is the one that I am most concerned about. I took her out for the photo op it’s going to be a while before I go back in there. My cockerel Really objected to my handling his lady friend. She’s still laying though, and no egg abnormalities. I really dislike the production reds, and they also have horribly trimmed beaks.

I think she was attempting to dust bathe, but the ground is too wet and I haven’t put a pan in for them yet... I just wanted them out of the mud pit they were living in ASAP, and figured done is better than perfect, right? I still need to add their OS and Grit feeder as well. They are still better off now, and improving.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I see a lot of broken feathers, so it's probably from picking, lack of space and if they are with rooster(s) that can cause some damage too. If you can get away with dusting them with the Carbyl or Permethrin, I would do that too.