[Carshay]

My cream legbar Jolene has a scruffy looking patch of feathers at the base of her tail on her back between the ends of her wings. I wondered if it was lice or something altho none of the others seem to have a problem. She is quite hard to catch but I gave it a go this morning and got hold of her tail but just got left with a handful of tail feathers. They came out very easily but showed no sign of any parasites. She is about 8-9 mths old and assuming she is pure bred has not yet laid as I have had no blue eggs but who knows if she is not pure. Could it be a moult? Any help gratefully received!

[tstainesmoore]

Hey
      Depending on if you have a cockerel, it may just be that the cockerel has taken a shine to that particular hen and has simply worn away the feathers from treding, however the best way to check is to catch her and check under her feathers for any mite or lice. i would catch her and spray her anyway just in case, but it is more than likely just mounlting due to the time of year.

Hope that helps

[Carshay]

Hi thanks for that. No cockerel so will try to catch her tomorrow.  Isn't she a bit young to moult? There doesn't seem to be any other feather loss.

[kegs]

It could just be a partial moult.  Some of mine did that at a similar age and there seemed to be feathers all over the garden for a day or two, but no real feather loss on my chicken.  I've also got a 12 week old table bird who has lost quite a few tail feathers this week.  You could de-louse them anyway just to be sure (I use Frontline).

[sassteve]

I have very limited experience but I would suggest that the hen is a victim of the dominant hens persistant pecking (maybe?)  I have seen this in a few set ups where the lower ordered hens have a bald patch at the bottom of the back where the "bullies"  Have plucked them clean.

Just a thought.

[viettaclark]

I think if feathers are coming out with just a gentle pull she is definitely moulting.
My Speckledie had a partial moult this Winter and she's about 9 months.
Give her a little cat food or dried meal worms to build up her protein levels so she can make new feathers quickly.
On a related (hilarious) note: I was amazed to see the lawn covered in Speckledie feathers that looked like they'd been planted upright! The worms were dragging them down into the soil, quill first! They enjoy a protein meal too.......

[OpiumEater]

Now that would have been a photo worth seeing