Do Some Chickens Molt in the Winter?

[Better Than Rubies]

Hi, guys.
So, my neighbors have at least eight chickens; a bantam rooster, bantam hen (who the others seem to ostracize now), and six large fowl hens. One of their Barred Rocks' tail feathers is missing; you can't see the tail bone or anything like that, but the extra fluff of feathers (that makes their tail look nice) is missing. I'm wondering, do they molt in winter? I just noticed it today. But I really don't think they do. I'm just asking to rule that out, as more likely than not, someone's picking on her. And the other Barred Rock sneezes/wheezes (?) a lot, and it almost sounds like she has a 'stuffy nose' (to explain how she sounds, a little better). I feel like she's sick. But can having worms make them sick? I'm clearly no chicken expert. And one last thing: One of the Barred Rocks, forgot which one, is missing feathers that should be covering its heiny, so it's pink back there, which I know is weird for it to be showing, since the other chickens have a fully covered bottom. Anyways, again, they're not my chickens, but I'm curious as to what could be wrong with them, and hoping maybe someone could at least rule some things out? Well, thanks in advance. And so sorry if I described things terribly.

 

[Jemma Rider]

Hi, guys.
So, my neighbors have at least eight chickens; a bantam rooster, bantam hen (who the others seem to ostracize now), and six large fowl hens. One of their Barred Rocks' tail feathers is missing; you can't see the tail bone or anything like that, but the extra fluff of feathers (that makes their tail look nice) is missing. I'm wondering, do they molt in winter? I just noticed it today. But I really don't think they do. I'm just asking to rule that out, as more likely than not, someone's picking on her. And the other Barred Rock sneezes/wheezes (?) a lot, and it almost sounds like she has a 'stuffy nose' (to explain how she sounds, a little better). I feel like she's sick. But can having worms make them sick? I'm clearly no chicken expert. And one last thing: One of the Barred Rocks, forgot which one, is missing feathers that should be covering its heiny, so it's pink back there, which I know is weird for it to be showing, since the other chickens have a fully covered bottom. Anyways, again, they're not my chickens, but I'm curious as to what could be wrong with them, and hoping maybe someone could at least rule some things out? Well, thanks in advance. And so sorry if I described things terribly.

Some chickens do molt in winter i have one who is stuck in the middle and looks like she got in a train wreck right now, but it does sound like something else. I'm not an expert by any means i just got my flock in September, but could you try to explain the birds symptoms again but a bit slower? Do you have pictures of the one missing the rump feathers and can you see any new pin feathers growing in? It could be thrush but from the way you described it it doesn't sound like it. The wheezing and sneezing could be a sign of a respiratory infection. Does her nose seem to run or does she show trouble breathing? Is she completely bald back there or is there just a little patch missing? It could potentially be external parasites causing the feathers to fall out or making the hen pick them out herself, you should be able to tell if you take a closer look. Sorry i know this is more questions then answers but i hope i can help in some way. Pictures would help greatly.

 

[Huntsville Saloon]

I'm wondering, do they molt in winter?

They sure can. My Speckled Sussex hen started within the last week or so. Her neck is nothing but pin feathers. Looks like a monster.

 

[Better Than Rubies]

Huh; I didn't know some molt in winter. I mean, it does sound more reasonable for them to molt in the fall, but maybe it depends on the climate/area you live in.
But I don't think I can see new little pin feathers growing; I need to be right next to her, which she may let me get close, but she probably wouldn't stay still long enough for me to get a good look. Hopefully (though no guarantees) they'll be in my yard tomorrow and I can look at it better? I'll have to see what I can do.
And I don't think the other one's nose is runny. I don't see anything coming out of it. And I also don't really think she has trouble breathing; it almost seems like she has a cold, though, but maybe external parasites is what she has? Oh, and I guess I meant to say 'crop' instead of 'heiny'. But her crop I guess does just have a little bald spot, but it's noticeable. Mostly the fuzziest-looking feathers seems to be missing back there, I think, clearing a spot in the middle for her pink bottom to show.
This picture is an example of the one missing the tail feathers (none of the Barred Rocks in here are her, though):

See how the Buff Cochin Bantam's tail is naturally rounded like that? Well, the one whose top feathers (like the ones circled on the two BRs) is missing is like the Cochins now, almost, only not quite that shape; just her fancier feathers are gone. So, I wouldn't know if she, personally, is molting or not. Sorry for the lack of better wording. =P

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Technically it’s still fall.

My EE is currently molting and one of my Isa Brown’s is starting to molt.

 

[Huntsville Saloon]

Huh; I didn't know some molt in winter. I mean, it does sound more reasonable for them to molt in the fall, but maybe it depends on the climate/area you live in.

Me either. Got my flock in June, so this the first winter with them, and the first molt for any of them.

 

[Jemma Rider]

Huh; I didn't know some molt in winter. I mean, it does sound more reasonable for them to molt in the fall, but maybe it depends on the climate/area you live in.
But I don't think I can see new little pin feathers growing; I need to be right next to her, which she may let me get close, but she probably wouldn't stay still long enough for me to get a good look. Hopefully (though no guarantees) they'll be in my yard tomorrow and I can look at it better? I'll have to see what I can do.
And I don't think the other one's nose is runny. I don't see anything coming out of it. And I also don't really think she has trouble breathing; it almost seems like she has a cold, though, but maybe external parasites is what she has? Oh, and I guess I meant to say 'crop' instead of 'heiny'. But her crop I guess does just have a little bald spot, but it's noticeable. Mostly the fuzziest-looking feathers seems to be missing back there, I think, clearing a spot in the middle for her pink bottom to show.
This picture is an example of the one missing the tail feathers (none of the Barred Rocks in here are her, though):
View attachment 1211683
See how the Buff Cochin Bantam's tail is naturally rounded like that? Well, the one whose top feathers (like the ones circled on the two BRs) is missing is like the Cochins now, almost, only not quite that shape; just her fancier feathers are gone. So, I wouldn't know if she, personally, is molting or not. Sorry for the lack of better wording. =P

Oh the bald spot is on her breast? If so she could be going broody (trying to hatch eggs). They don't usually go broody in winter but a few weeks ago i noticed a bald spot on my birds chest, around her crop, and i freaked out. Well a week later i opened the coop and discovered that she had been hiding eggs and sitting on them while i wasn't looking. It could still be external parasites though. By crop do you mean around her chest? She could be trying to be broody but, like my hen, is failing miserably. Does the wheezing hen wheeze after alot of running or after she flaps her wings? My hen will do that for a few seconds after she flaps and then stops and acts normal. It might be nothing, if you can lure her over with oats or something to get a closer look, oats, greens, or if you have cracked corn they love that.
Do the owner of the birds know that the hen is missing feathers? Mites and lice are almost microscopic and very hard to see so they should give the girls a once over to be sure. I hope i can help i know I'm sort of all over the place and i apologize. Do you know what the girls are being fed, sometimes if they aren't getting enough protein they can pluck out their own feathers to compensate since feathers are pure protein. Have you seen her grooming more then the others? Sorry, again more questions then answers.

 

[Jemma Rider]

Huh; I didn't know some molt in winter. I mean, it does sound more reasonable for them to molt in the fall, but maybe it depends on the climate/area you live in.
But I don't think I can see new little pin feathers growing; I need to be right next to her, which she may let me get close, but she probably wouldn't stay still long enough for me to get a good look. Hopefully (though no guarantees) they'll be in my yard tomorrow and I can look at it better? I'll have to see what I can do.
And I don't think the other one's nose is runny. I don't see anything coming out of it. And I also don't really think she has trouble breathing; it almost seems like she has a cold, though, but maybe external parasites is what she has? Oh, and I guess I meant to say 'crop' instead of 'heiny'. But her crop I guess does just have a little bald spot, but it's noticeable. Mostly the fuzziest-looking feathers seems to be missing back there, I think, clearing a spot in the middle for her pink bottom to show.
This picture is an example of the one missing the tail feathers (none of the Barred Rocks in here are her, though):
View attachment 1211683
See how the Buff Cochin Bantam's tail is naturally rounded like that? Well, the one whose top feathers (like the ones circled on the two BRs) is missing is like the Cochins now, almost, only not quite that shape; just her fancier feathers are gone. So, I wouldn't know if she, personally, is molting or not. Sorry for the lack of better wording. =P

Also, just some things i forgot, the tail feathers were the first feathers to fall on mine, though normally they start at their heads, it looks like they're going bald when molting. There are a couple reasons for feather loss, if on the chickens chest it's probably either that she's molting or she's broody. Because she's also losing tail feathers I'd assume molting but until you can get close enough to look for pin feathers we can't be certain. If you can't see any pin feathers then it could be parasites, or even just stress or boredom. Stress can cause a chicken to do weird things, and it could be that she's bored and wants to peck at something. The thing about parasites is if one has them, they all have them. So more likely the hen is plucking herself or just molting. To alleviate boredom i hang vegetables around and they like to peck at them. One of my hens plucks herself and the vegetables stop that.

 

[Better Than Rubies]

Wait, what? I thought crop meant their bottom. If it doesn't mean that, then, no, it's not on her breast; it's on her bottom. I saw it a little today, and I either didn't get too good a glimpse at it, or either from what I saw, it's growing more feathers back, as the pink bald spot wasn't as big. The wheezing hen doesn't wheeze after doing what you just mentioned; she just walks up to me, looking for a treat on my hand, and then she'll just 'sneeze' randomly sometimes, or whatever that noise is called/that she's making. And I can certainly lure her over; when she sees me come outside, she'll run towards me, since I hand-feed her a lot. It took a long time before she (who got the other ones on occasion) started taking food from my hand; she is certainly brave. And I don't know for sure, but I'd imagine the owners know. Can external parasites make a chicken sick or sneeze? If so, that's the only reason I'd think she/a couple of them have them. The other Barred Rock with the missing feathers seems to feel ostracized lately?, I think that's what I observed earlier. So either she is molting, or she's being picked on. I got some pictures of the tail, but I haven't uploaded them to the computer yet. And to answer your question about one of them grooming, nope; I haven't noticed them grooming themselves. And I'm sure they're fed the typical 16% layer pellets around here.
I got a closer look today, but I still can't tell if I can see pin feathers.
Thank you very much for trying to help! Though now I'm slightly wondering if they have parasites. . .

 

[Sunshine Flock]

It would have been awesome had someone told me when I brought home chicks earlier this year that they could molt their first year, and if that happens they will look like half chickens wobbling around, and then quarter chickens when they lose their tail feathers!!