Americauna Hen Lost Her Beard

[Bird Mama 6]

My Americauna hen lost her beard and now has a bare throat. could this be the start of a molt? She was hatched March 2024 and hasn't molted yet. It's over 100F the last couple of days. She free ranges during the day with her sisters.

 

[sourland]

Most likely one of her flock mates is over grooming/feather plucking her beard.

 

[WingItRanch]

I agree about over grooming. I've watched one of my Easter Eggers lift her head and hold still so another hen can groom her. That cute beard holds crumbs well so it happens.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Agreed as well. Some of mine like it so much that if I start gently plucking at their beards they'll just hold still and let me groom them.

It'll grow back during molt, and then most likely get plucked out again after that.

 

[Bird Mama 6]

Thank you. I have 3 hens, one is a cross-beak so feed her soaked pellets. All 3 of my hens eat it so guessing the one remaining normal beaked hen, Flower, was snacking on Darla's beard.