Ameraucana Roo has lost his beard--beginning of molt??

[livin-green]

I have a true Splash Ameraucana roo that we hatched last spring (March, I think it was), and I noticed yesterday that he has nearly lost his entire beard. Nothing bloody/wounded, just no feathers, and he is the only roo with two hens in their enclosure. It happened rather quickly, and nothing obvious, except for crazy weather, has changed recently. I haven't noticed any other feathers missing, yet. Is this just the start of his molt? Or should I be concerned it is something else? We have never had roos before this one, so I'm not sure if there is anything else that might cause this specific area to lose feathers.

Addition: I forgot that I used his pic as my id pic, so there's what he normally looks like... Thanks!!

 

[chookchick]

I would keep a really close eye on them, and see if the hens could be pecking at his beard. If they have been cooped up because of the weather, they may be bored and getting into trouble. Also look them all over very carefully for lice or mites. You could put a hanging cabbage head out for them to peck at, also a suet feeder with a seed block hung up will keep them occupied. Make sure they are getting enough protein, high protein treats would be great--throw some sunflower seeds on the floor of the coop and make them hunt for them. If he is molting you will start to see other thin areas and new feathers (porcupiny) growing in.

 

[livin-green]

I'll keep a close-eye, but usually the hens are running from him...unless they've finally flipped the table on him! LOL!

We open the coop to an outdoor run area everyday--regardless of weather--but they have been staying in the coop a lot more. They really didn't like the snow we had on Friday, and without the snow, the run is a muddy mess right now! :-( I do throw out scratch with BOSS mixed in everyday, but they don't seem to like cabbage. We hang a head in our other two runs, but these chickens won't touch a leaf when I put it on there...?? I think I've got an extra suet feeder & block around here, so maybe I'll try that--thanks! I'll also check them over better for any other "thin" areas.

Does anyone know if it is typical for this breed to lose the beard first when starting a molt?

 

[Kung Foo Chicken]

Look for mites.
Maybe molting.
Hens could be giving love bites-One of my D'uccle hens is a beard puller.

 

[livin-green]

Thanks--I'm going to check for mites & keep a closer eye on them to see if there is in fact any picking going on.