Hello human friends of chickens! I am concerned for the well-being of my dear little EE hen, Paulie. She has been missing almost all of the feathers on her neck for quite some time now, this started in March of spring 2014. However, I thought it was a normal occurrence, like people balding, because she seemed healthy in every other respect and was near the top of the pecking order.
BUT, now with molting season arriving, she has lost all her tail feathers, and is loosing many other feathers as well. While the other chickens look like they are only loosing one or two feathers, and are huddled on the roost like they have always been, Paulie is sitting far away from them on the other end of the roost. Usually she is cuddled in with the rest like normal. Being the chicken n00b that I am, I'm worried!
Is it normal for a chicken to lose her neck feathers around March? Also, is it OK for Paulie to be sleep apart from the rest of the flock? Is there anything I can do to help her through this stressful time in her young life?
Thank you everyone! May your chickens forever be very very happy,
Annie
BUT, now with molting season arriving, she has lost all her tail feathers, and is loosing many other feathers as well. While the other chickens look like they are only loosing one or two feathers, and are huddled on the roost like they have always been, Paulie is sitting far away from them on the other end of the roost. Usually she is cuddled in with the rest like normal. Being the chicken n00b that I am, I'm worried!
Is it normal for a chicken to lose her neck feathers around March? Also, is it OK for Paulie to be sleep apart from the rest of the flock? Is there anything I can do to help her through this stressful time in her young life?
Thank you everyone! May your chickens forever be very very happy,
Annie