7 going on 8 week old chick with a naked neck?

[nessathegrape]

Looks like my 7 going on 8 week old RIR is missing feathers. On closer inspectio. Everything looks healthy and the feathers look like they're coming in. (The feathers look like small paintbrushes rather than bare skin or broken feathers.) I thought chicks keep their down until they grow feathers. Pecking I suppose is possible, but it looks to clean to be pecking.

 

[nessathegrape]

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[nuttyboo]

They usually go through a moly between 7-11 weeks, try to handle them less it can be painful for them. This is a great article
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2011/12/molting-what-is-it-and-how-to-manage-it.html?m=1

 

[nessathegrape]

Thank you. I never noticed this with last year's brood, but I probably wouldn't have noticed on Ruby if I hadn't picked her up. It seems to stay hidden by the top feathers unless she turns her head a certain way.

 

[nessathegrape]

At least I hope she's a she anyway!