Do you think this was left from Chicky?

[hlhutchinson]

I went to collect Barbecues egg and found several white feathers in the nest box.

Is this a sign that Chicky is playing in the nest box and leaving feathers? She has been squatting for me recently but no eggs yet
All the feathers are white so I don't think they belong to Barbecue, why would there be so many small feathers in the box?
What are your thoughts?

Barbecues fluffy bum some of her feathers don't have the brown but I don't think they are a pure white

 

[theuglychick]

Some of my hens pluck their breast and tummy feathers out when they don't think I've done an adequate job of lining their nest boxes, lol. Not all of mine do it.

 

[MageofMist]

My silkie hens started playing around in the nestbox shortly before they started laying, though now even the 4 month olds have started sitting in the nestbox which has confused me a few times when I stuck my hand under them to check for eggs and they make their penguin noises at me! "Wait, you aren't old enough to lay eggs!"

Edit: They are in the awkward stage where their chirps are turning into clucks, so they sound like penguins when agitated. And it doesn't take much to agitate these drama queens, lightly touching a tiny strand of fluff on their back warrants angry penguin noises.

 

[Chickassan]

I want one of those golf ball laying chickens! Chickens do goofy stuff when they approach womanhood, pluck feathers to make the nest better, turn into either little
whining or fighting machines. I've got one pretending to be broody even though she's never laid a single egg. Nobody understands why they do what they do, absolutely nobody.

 

[hlhutchinson]

Well at least I'm not the only one baffled by my chickens

 

[hlhutchinson]

Some of my hens pluck their breast and tummy feathers out when they don't think I've done an adequate job of lining their nest boxes, lol. Not all of mine do it.

The smart ones let the others pluck out feathers then enjoy the nice soft and fluffy neast

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Down feathers are lighter than the top feathers, so I'm suspicious of Barbecue.

She has some Wyandotte in her, and they tend to go broody. Has Barbecue been lingering in the nest box lately? Check her breast to see if she has been plucking it in anticipation of going broody.

It is coming onto fall molts, but I doubt your young Chicky will be molting this season. Sometimes they will have a light juvenile molt as they finish getting their mature feathers. The fall season can prolong that a bit, which means can prolong egg laying a bit too.

But good news, Chicky is Leghorn hybrid, which means she should mature faster and hopefully will lay for you this first season.

So back to the rest of your flock, fall molt is coming upon us, and I see mature eggs there that can't be from Barbecue...who could be molting now in your flock?

The start of it is little fluffs of light down seen around. Only my fully black birds give dark down fluffs. Even my Barnevelder rooster has some light down fluff (by his tail).

LofMc

 

[hlhutchinson]

Down feathers are lighter than the top feathers, so I'm suspicious of Barbecue.

She has some Wyandotte in her, and they tend to go broody. Has Barbecue been lingering in the nest box lately? Check her breast to see if she has been plucking it in anticipation of going broody.

It is coming onto fall molts, but I doubt your young Chicky will be molting this season. Sometimes they will have a light juvenile molt as they finish getting their mature feathers. The fall season can prolong that a bit, which means can prolong egg laying a bit too.

But good news, Chicky is Leghorn hybrid, which means she should mature faster and hopefully will lay for you this first season.

So back to the rest of your flock, fall molt is coming upon us, and I see mature eggs there that can't be from Barbecue...who could be molting now in your flock?

The start of it is little fluffs of light down seen around. Only my fully black birds give dark down fluffs. Even my Barnevelder rooster has some light down fluff (by his tail).

LofMc

The grey/green egg is from Barbecue (9/19 first egg), her and Goldie (8/16, first egg) are the only ones laying. Her eggs are a light brown.

I'm 100% sure of who's laying what egg because I have been out side while they lay.
Chicky and Blacky (named for her color) have yet to give us eggs but they are both squatting for us
I will have to look at Barbecue and see if she looks like she's been pulling her chest feathers out, that's if I can see any difference but this is the first time. Normally both Goldie and Barbecue take about 45 min to an hr to lay there egg and then they leave the nest box. I have not noticed Barbecue hanging out more then normal, yet anyways I will keep an eye out

Thank you for your input

 

[Lady of McCamley]

The grey/green egg is from Barbecue (9/19 first egg), her and Goldie (8/16, first egg) are the only ones laying. Her eggs are a light brown.
View attachment 1153216
I'm 100% sure of who's laying what egg because I have been out side while they lay.
Chicky and Blacky (named for her color) have yet to give us eggs but they are both squatting for us
I will have to look at Barbecue and see if she looks like she's been pulling her chest feathers out, that's if I can see any difference but this is the first time. Normally both Goldie and Barbecue take about 45 min to an hr to lay there egg and then they leave the nest box. I have not noticed Barbecue hanging out more then normal, yet anyways I will keep an eye out

Thank you for your input

Ah, I see, Barbecue is a Wyandotte/EE. Pretty eggs.

Don't forget you can get some light molting simply from the fall temps.

Just to be sure, check everyone's vents to make sure there aren't creepy crawlies causing them to feather pick.

LofMc

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

Awwww Chicky is a Snowy EE! That's the chicken I have. Mine is younger, but it's cool to see what she will look like!