A tale of two feathers, advice please

[socks]

Hi, me again with questions

My 7 birds are about 4 1/2 weeks old now and spend their nights inside in their brooder (a modified crib) and their afternoons in a chicken tractor. Things have been going pretty well as far as them seeming healthy and occupied and them getting that kind of ugly teenage look about them with little bits of feather floating around as they get their grown up feathers.

This morning however I found what looked like a tail feather, long anyway and not looking like something they would lose (or maybe they do lose these, what do I know?) from one of the buff orpingtons and then on further inspection found a grayish feather of similar size and shape.

Am I to conclude that there has been some feather pulling? Or have I misunderstood what feathers would be dropped as they grow? I think I have at least 4 roosters in this bunch and everybody gets up in each others face every so often but I hope it hasn't come down to the dreaded F.P.
awaiting your kind and experienced advice to this oh so newby who can't seem to find anything useful in the books she has.

 

[New adventure]

I think it's just normal for them to shed feathers. I am amazed at how many there are in the coop, on the ground, everywhere. Mine are about 4 months old, so I don't know if they keep this up, or if it's because they are growing so fast.

 

[silkiechicken]

They'll shed their baby fluff, then their early teen feathers, then their real teen feathers before getting their 1st year adult feathers, and then moult every year from that point on. If you look at the shaft of the feathers on the ground and they are hard it is fine, if the feathers you find have blood in the that squishes out when you press it, then that would be picking. I bet they are fine!

 

[socks]

Great! thanks guys, yeah I didn't see any blood so very good to know that they will continue to shed teen feathers. Now I just have to curb their new penchant for pecking at me when I pick them up......it's making me skittish

 

[codybird]

My 6 are 13 weeks and have shed enough feathers to make two more chickens.

Sheds look good, not frazzled or eaten.No blood. No bald spots. Seem healthy.

Someone on here said it was juvenile feather loss.

 

[thebroodybunch]

My RI Reds are about 8 weeks old and are shedding some feathers too. I know that eventually they will become almost black in color. When does that happen?

 

[socks]

I suppose my husband the fly tier will be happy to hear that they shed so much! And me too come to think of it, the way he was eyeing one of my pretty little americauna crosses I thought I might have to deal with a human feather puller! (mind you, one night in the chicken jail would be sure to cure him

)