Eaten wingtips?!

[DelaneE]

I came home to feathers.. feathers everywhere. One of my hens (the oldest by far) is missing tons of feathers, I pick her up..... the ends of her wings are gone!!! Missing back almost to the elbow joint! What in the world would eat wingtips, but leave the chicken alive? No other injuries found, just losing feathers (from stress?)

 

[Michellep224]

Hello! Welcome to Backyard Chickens! ^_^
Are you new to chicken raising?

How old is your hen?
She very well could be in molt. It's the right time of year for birds to start molting a lot
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/what-happens-when-chickens-molt.67366/

 

[DelaneE]

I've had chickens for about 8 years, she's at least 4 years old. My first thought was "well, she's molting" but then I caught her and noticed that her wings looked so short and have little bloody ends. I'll get some pics tomorrow and share them here.

 

[aart]

I'll get some pics tomorrow and share them here.

Great!
Also, were they free ranging or....?