11 week-olds losing their feathers-Help please!

[Carrie Lynn]

I have two 11 wk-old BR chicks.
They started to lose their long feathers, one at a time starting about 10 days ago.
Now it's as though they are molting, their losing lots of their short feathers daily.
Their tales are disappearing, tell me this isn't a prelude to roo tails coming in.

Please advise, and thank you!

 

[ChikeeMomma]

Are they losing them or are others pulling out the feathers. If they are losing them, I have no idea why. If they are picking/pulling each others feathers out then make sure they all have plenty of space. Overcrowding can cause feather picking.

 

[Carrie Lynn]

No, they are together in a wire dog crate. The small feathers seem to come out a lot as they preen. Nothing unusual in their preening habits either.

 

[ChikeeMomma]

Hmm....If you don't suspect that feather picking is possible then I don't know.

Hope someone else can help you soon!

 

[hokankai]

Chicks go through many mini molts until they reach their adult feathering. Maybe they're just upgrading?

 

[mamabigbird]

I believe they're losing their baby feathers and will soon sprout their big girl feathers.
Mine did the same thing at about the same age.
My grow-out pen looked like a plucking pen by the time they moved in with the big hens.
You may notice their combs starting to get more color too.

 

[lroth217]

Here, I hope these help. They sure helped me!!!

http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/27_2709.htm

http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/library/lvstk2/mf2308.pdf