Adding to flock

Vesperbumpkin

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This is our second year with chickens and we decided to add some hens to the flock. Instead of starting with babies, we purchased four Hy-line hens that are supposed to be 1 year old. We do have them quarantined from the original flock. I was just out checking on them and noticed that a couple of them have bare spots on their chests. It worried me so I picked up the one that looked the worst to have a closer look. Upon turning her over I saw that her entire underside was pretty bare. Then it occurred to me that maybe they were molting. I read a thread on here about that and I am still not quite sure. I am wondering if the stress of a new home brought this on. We brought them home one week ago today. We have been getting 2 or 3 eggs a day from them.
 
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Welcome to BYC!

Sounds like broodiness. All my hens have bare chests. They pluck a couple feathers every time they go to lay an egg. By fall, before their molt, they can be completely bald on their chests! So I don't think you have anything serious going on.

When you do go to mix them in with the original flock, keep the new birds in a cage or fenced off area but within the flock at all times. Everybody sees, nobody touches. Leave them this way for about 3 weeks. This will allow the original flock to work out much of the pecking order from behind wire. When mixing day comes, it should go fairly smoothly. Watch them closely that day and the rest of the week. And always intervene if it turns bloody.

Enjoy your new flock! They sound fine to me. Just plucking feathers for the nest. Welcome to our flock!
 
Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC! Stress like moving can also bring on a molt, Hy-lines are commercial layers that may keep on laying pretty well right through a molt. Do you know how they were kept? If they were raised on wire that sometimes wears off feathers. Do watch for feather picking and double check for lice/mites etc just in case. You could also post pictures in the Emergencies forum input if anyone sees anything to be concerned about. www.backyardchickens.com/f/10/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures
 

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