Beard/muff plucking

[charlotte-and-the-bees]

Hello! I have two muffed ladies who are missing parts of their muffs each. Our Ameraucana/Faverolle mix is missing her cheeks, and our Mille Fleur is missing in the middle of her neck. Checked for mites and suspect it's a plucking issue since it's pretty localized. Any way to prevent this? They're so docile and I suspect it's well-intentioned over-grooming. Would it help to periodically clean them so they don't try to "help" each other?

 

[azygous]

I have EEs and what I've noticed is some are very sloppy eaters. One of mine especially rakes her beak through her fermented feed, dragging her beard through the slop so she's wearing it when she's done eating. Enter the helpful hens who have appointed themselves official face cleaners, and the ensuing vacuuming removes food and beard as well.

Then there are some chickens that are fixated on the muffs and can't seem to keep their beaks to themselves, taking a nip of face fluff every opportunity.

I envy people who have EEs with actual existing beards and muffs. Mine are naked faced and look pretty silly.

 

[Mrs. K]

I had hens that preened a rooster until he was nearly bald. I think it just happens.

 

[Folly's place]

See who looks really good, and/ or who roosts next to the pecking victims. It might be one culprit, or more, and identifying who's doing it helps. Sometimes the best fix is to move that bird on elsewhere, or there are pinless peepers...
Mary

 

[cluckingheck]

My girl has never lost her beard or muffs, but she can never keep her beard clean unlike her rooster counterpart. she always gets it in the water or will stand out in the rain....which leaves it as a hanging mass of soggy fluff under her chin. when she tries preening it, she somehow flips it up into her mouth and I’ve seen her do this too. she’ll bob her head and come back up with a mouth full of beard, but I haven’t seen her actually pull any out. ANYWAYS, my point being — if it isn’t the other hens, they might be pulling their face fluff out themselves.

 

[charlotte-and-the-bees]

I have EEs and what I've noticed is some are very sloppy eaters. One of mine especially rakes her beak through her fermented feed, dragging her beard through the slop so she's wearing it when she's done eating. Enter the helpful hens who have appointed themselves official face cleaners, and the ensuing vacuuming removes food and beard as well.

Then there are some chickens that are fixated on the muffs and can't seem to keep their beaks to themselves, taking a nip of face fluff every opportunity.

I envy people who have EEs with actual existing beards and muffs. Mine are naked faced and look pretty silly.

Okay, at least I’m not alone.

 

[charlotte-and-the-bees]

My girl has never lost her beard or muffs, but she can never keep her beard clean unlike her rooster counterpart. she always gets it in the water or will stand out in the rain....which leaves it as a hanging mass of soggy fluff under her chin. when she tries preening it, she somehow flips it up into her mouth and I’ve seen her do this too. she’ll bob her head and come back up with a mouth full of beard, but I haven’t seen her actually pull any out. ANYWAYS, my point being — if it isn’t the other hens, they might be pulling their face fluff out themselves.

This is adorable imagery, although I’m sure it’s annoying for her human.

 

[aart]

I think it just happens.

It does.
Have had more than few beardless birds, they just let other birds 'over-preen' them.

Mine are naked faced and look pretty silly.

Yep.
But when the beards grow back it's like having new birds!