Are they going through a molt?

[CrazyChickensEverwhere]

I have 3 hens whos feathers are messed up.

The one is pretty funy looking. Shes got a patch of feathers missing on her neck, and she has only little stubs sticking out, her crop has little pointy things comming in also. Its been this way for 1-2 months, its got better in some places, then feathers go missing in another area,and stubs come in. She has not layed lately,I saw her once in the last 1-2 months.

The other one was stubs starting to come in on her neck.

The last one also has little points sharp stubs also.



I get 6-8 eggs a day from 10 hens who should be laying (I have 2 broodys also)


are they motting?

 

[Southernbelle]

Lots of things can cause feather loss: molting, broody, picking, rooster mating or lice/mites. If you don't have a rooster, they're not broody and you've checked them for lice and mites. Then either the girls are picking and eating each others feathers or they're molting. If they're not laying, it's probably molting. You can try upping their protein with some cat food to help them get through it faster.

 

[Sorin]

It sounds like a molt, how old are they?

 

[CrazyChickensEverwhere]

a year