Chicken Feathers Falling Out!

[Gemsbok]

My SLW girl has been broody for a few weeks and is finally out of the coop, but now I've noticed a new problem. The feathers on her back are falling out. I noticed a few stray feathers in the coop from her lately but today it was a longer, non-fluff feather. I grabbed her to start checking her for mites and as soon as I spread apart the feathers on her back, bunches of them fell out in my hands, leaving little holes in her skin! I didn't see any bugs moving, and we don't have a rooster. I've had no issues like this with the other (more friendly) chicken in the coop, she's fine and I've never seen any bugs on her, despite checking her daily. The SLW girl is more dominant than the other, and has never had any injuries or pecks. I feed them the same food, and theyre both eating and drinking and pooping normally. The SLW is just not currently laying, but I chalked that up to broodiness. Does anyone know what could be going on with her?

 

[Tanichca]

Sounds like she's molting! Chickens do it once or twice a year. They lose all their old feathers so that they can grow new, healthier ones, and stop laying during the molt. No worries!

 

[Gemsbok]

Sounds like she's molting! Chickens do it once or twice a year. They lose all their old feathers so that they can grow new, healthier ones, and stop laying during the molt. No worries!

Ah, thank you! I was worried it was something else, since I was finding sources that said molting starts at the head and neck, and it just seems like her back/tail is being affected.