Hen loosing feathers

Date sort Score sort
tarja15

tarja15

In the Brooder
Oct 20, 2015
6
11
47
My 3 year old hen is loosing feathers around the neck and Vent. I examined her carefully, no sign of mites or lice the skin looks pink and healthy just no feathers. She's eating and drinking. She does shake her head a lot as if trying to shake something off. Around her neck there are lot's of nubby looking, short "beginning of new feathers"?
Any ideas, suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Tarja

p.s. We also recently had a hen with maggots, she's all better now, her butt is healing nicely. This does not look like maggot problem.
 
Hello there and welcome to BYC!
frow.gif


Sounds like she is molting, a process of replacing all the old feathers and growing new ones. Fall is molting season for adult birds. They usually start at the head and vent areas first. All those newly growing feathers are called "pin feathers". They contain a blood supply to grow the feather. As the feather grows, the bird will preen off all that "skin" you see on the growing feather. When the feather is done growing in, the blood supply is shut off and it is now a new feather. From the head, next will be the shoulders, wing and finally tail.

If you are still concerned, post a picture up here so we can have a look see.

Great to have you aboard and welcome to our flock! :)
 
Thank you so much! I'm so glad to be a part of this friendly and knowledgeable group of people!
 

Similar threads

D
Chickens loosing their beards
2
Replies
10
Views
564
rosemarythyme
rosemarythyme
abbly2
Feathers missing
Replies
3
Views
217
Lacy Duckwing
Lacy Duckwing
RebelEgger
Ragged/Wispy-Looking Feathers
Replies
8
Views
629
RebelEgger
RebelEgger
G
    • Wow
Missing feathers
2
Replies
10
Views
481
Gandolf Millie
G
J
    • Like
Hen lost neck feathers
Replies
4
Views
254
Jules333
J

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom