So for the past few days I've noticed that one of my hens has some missing feathers/a bald spot on her neck. She also hasn't been laying for the same amount of time or a little longer. Now that's not that unusual to not lay one day because I usually get between 6 and 8 eggs a day from 8 hens (though lately it's been more like 4, sometimes 3 or 5, i guess cause of heat) and it's usually a different chicken that doesn't lay. If one doesn't lay, they do the next day. But what's unusual is it's been a few days now. I haven't checked to see if she's laid today but I doubt it. She hadn't earlier. There's also feathers in the run.
She is an Easter Egger.
I tried to look at her neck but she got away from me. But I tried to yesterday too and i can't see any injuries.
I have 1 Barred Rock, 2 Black Australorps, 3 Buff Orpingtons, and 2 Easter Eggers.
The one in question is the lower ranking of the 2 EEs.
They were hatched October 26th, 2015 and come from Meyer Hatchery if that helps.
That should make them about 10 months old?
Which I thought was pretty early?
I've read a lot about molting so I'd be prepared, hence why I didn't panic over this and think it is a molt. But that said I don't want to not panic if I should be worried.
I have a suspicion she could possibly be being picked on or plucked in her beard area as she's the lowest ranking i think but i could be wrong about the bullying and this seems different. I also haven't actually seen anyone picking on her.
Could she really be molting this early?
I thought it was early season wise too, being August when i thought it was usually a fall thing, but also today I found another post mentioning the first one is usually 18 months. I had read that when I read up on molting butbhad forgotten about that. .
Is it possible she is molting so early?
If so can I give her something to up the protein, maybe BOSS or buy Feather Fixer? Don't wanna switch whole flock if they don't molt this year or if she's not molting. Maybe give just her the treats?
I will try to get a picture of her neck but she's also my most flighty.
Their coop and run is also only maybe 3x3 coop kit from TSC for coop and 6x12 dog kennel run so I know it's too small, we are in the process of building a new one now. But so could the stress of that have caused early onset molting??? Or do some chickens just molt earlier? No one else appears to be molting.
Thanks in advance.
She is an Easter Egger.
I tried to look at her neck but she got away from me. But I tried to yesterday too and i can't see any injuries.
I have 1 Barred Rock, 2 Black Australorps, 3 Buff Orpingtons, and 2 Easter Eggers.
The one in question is the lower ranking of the 2 EEs.
They were hatched October 26th, 2015 and come from Meyer Hatchery if that helps.
That should make them about 10 months old?
Which I thought was pretty early?
I've read a lot about molting so I'd be prepared, hence why I didn't panic over this and think it is a molt. But that said I don't want to not panic if I should be worried.
I have a suspicion she could possibly be being picked on or plucked in her beard area as she's the lowest ranking i think but i could be wrong about the bullying and this seems different. I also haven't actually seen anyone picking on her.
Could she really be molting this early?
I thought it was early season wise too, being August when i thought it was usually a fall thing, but also today I found another post mentioning the first one is usually 18 months. I had read that when I read up on molting butbhad forgotten about that. .
Is it possible she is molting so early?
If so can I give her something to up the protein, maybe BOSS or buy Feather Fixer? Don't wanna switch whole flock if they don't molt this year or if she's not molting. Maybe give just her the treats?
I will try to get a picture of her neck but she's also my most flighty.
Their coop and run is also only maybe 3x3 coop kit from TSC for coop and 6x12 dog kennel run so I know it's too small, we are in the process of building a new one now. But so could the stress of that have caused early onset molting??? Or do some chickens just molt earlier? No one else appears to be molting.
Thanks in advance.