Anyone know why my rooster is losing tail feathers?

[WallacetheKhakiCampbell]

Hello! Not sure if this is the right forum to post in (that being Emergencies/Diseases/Injuries and cures), however I am starting to get a tad worried. I first noticed my rooster (Tony) missing some tail feathers. I found them doing there usual thing when a predator comes around and I ran out thinking a coyote or raccoon got a hold of them and pulled some out. I also saw him get caught in between my cow and the wall while she was milking (eating hay) and she got a hold of his tail! Nothing came out though and she only had like a feather or two in her mouth before his squawk scared her and she let go. So I don't really think its that. Also anyone in the PNW is familiar we have had an extremely long and painfully hot summer in Washington. Once in a 1000 year heat wave reaching 120 for 3 days straight. Followed by 100+ days for weeks on end. I have lost 3 chickens this summer. Now it has suddenly cooled down to 70-75 highs and 55 degree lows. Could this strange weather cause him to start molting a bit early? Thank you!

(P.S. I dont know why my chickens eyes look like this in the picture I assure you they are not all cloudy and gross)

 

[Eggcessive]

It could be that the camera caught his nictitating membrane (third eyelid) blinking. Most chickens lose tail feathers early during a molt. My chickens are molting now. How old is he?If it is not molting, someone may be pulling out his tail feathers.

 

[WallacetheKhakiCampbell]

It could be that the camera caught his nictitating membrane (third eyelid) blinking. Most chickens lose tail feathers early during a molt. My chickens are molting now. How old is he?If it is not molting, someone may be pulling out his tail feathers.

Thank you! I haven't had a rooster during a molt yet so I didn't know what to expect really. I haven't added any new birds to the flock recently so I dont think they are being plucked. He is a little over a year old. Thank you again, I just wanted to make sure it wasn't a symptoms of something I would need to treat for.

 

[Eggcessive]

Some chickens molt all at once and have big patches of missing feathers and blue feather shafts coming in, while others molt gradually, and you may not realize they are molting except for the loss of tail feathers.

 

[sourland]

Looks like the start of a molt to me also. Doubt that it is feather pecking/plucking.

 

[WallacetheKhakiCampbell]

Looks like the start of a molt to me also. Doubt that it is feather pecking/plucking.

Thank you!!

 

[WallacetheKhakiCampbell]

Some chickens molt all at once and have big patches of missing feathers and blue feather shafts coming in, while others molt gradually, and you may not realize they are molting except for the loss of tail feathers.

Oh interesting thank you. Ive thought I noticed a lot more feathers lying around lately, maybe my other chickens are doing it too!

 

[Sally PB]

Last Friday, my roo had a single sickle feather. He looked silly. Saturday, he lost it and now he looks even sillier. All my adult birds are 17 months, so I'm guessing the feathers I'm seeing are the beginnings of molting. The hens are still laying, so they can't be too far into it.

 

[WallacetheKhakiCampbell]

Last Friday, my roo had a single sickle feather. He looked silly. Saturday, he lost it and now he looks even sillier. All my adult birds are 17 months, so I'm guessing the feathers I'm seeing are the beginnings of molting. The hens are still laying, so they can't be too far into it.

Same here! He lost his last one yesterday and now looks part Araucana!