9 month old chicken losing feathers?

[red1407]

Today my husband picked up one of our chickens and when he did he noticed she was bare on her chest. She is not broody , she seems healthy, laid an egg this morning and has been laying an egg everyday for weeks now. ( started laying in December ) she has no pin feathers and seems perfectly fine. It seems like one of our other chickens has been losing some down feathers too ( as they’re white ) we think it may be our buff Orpington. Is it just an early molt? Doesn’t seem to have any signs of lice or mites but we are gonna do a good look at them tomorrow better.

 

[Isabella6Storm4]

if i were to guess i would say a molt. My chickens are pretty random when it comes to when in the year they molt.

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

It wouldn’t seem to be a molt. I agree, they can happen at odd times, but she’s laying currently. Neck feathers are usually the first ones to be lost in a molt, and she has those, correct? Sometimes hens just lose feathers on their chests. Is it noticeable when she’s walking around, or only when you pick her up? Any excessive scratching, preening, or head shaking? It would be a good idea to check them for lice and mites, just to be sure.

 

[red1407]

It wouldn’t seem to be a molt. I agree, they can happen at odd times, but she’s laying currently. Neck feathers are usually the first ones to be lost in a molt, and she has those, correct? Sometimes hens just lose feathers on their chests. Is it noticeable when she’s walking around, or only when you pick her up? Any excessive scratching, preening, or head shaking? It would be a good idea to check them for lice and mites, just to be sure.

I mean i don’t think there’s been excessive anything, but I’m going to pay extra attention the next few days. No you can to see it when she’s just walking around- my husband picked her up and was shocked to feel it.

 

[red1407]

I mean i don’t think there’s been excessive anything, but I’m going to pay extra attention the next few days. No you can to see it when she’s just walking around- my husband picked her up and was shocked to feel it.

Can’t see it when she’s walking around**