Feather loss...mating?

[jgarruto]

I have been noticing an increasing number of feathers in the coop. I'm not noticing excessive squabbling, and most of the feathers are NOT from the low hen (and youngest) on the totem pole. Everyone seems in good spirits, the coop is a reasonable size, perhaps a bit smaller than ideal, but everyone is out in the run by 730 AM. I'm not seeing excessive feathers in the run. I am supplementing feed with calf manna and DE is applied liberally in the coop and run. I'm wondering if our Bantam Cochin rooster is trying to mate the hens in the coop, causing feather loss? None are barebacked or show noticeable feather loss. All the hens are larger than him, so I'm wondering if they are evading him or throwing him off, causing the loss of pinfeathers?

 

[Wynette]

If they have gone through a laying cycle, they are molting. This is the process of replacing their old feathers with fresh new ones. It's perfectly normal, but a little scary when you see all those feathers.

It could also have been a predator attack, but I'd think you'd have noticed someone missing if that was the case.

Note that when they are molting, their laying will stop or slow down quite a bit.

 

[jgarruto]

Oops, I meant to add, they are still juvenile. They won't start laying till around September/October. Also, their coop is pretty predator proof. Everything except bear...!

 

[aart]

Oops, I meant to add, they are still juvenile. They won't start laying till around September/October. Also, their coop is pretty predator proof. Everything except bear...!

So they are about 12-16 weeks old?
Just a juvenile molt, chickens change plumage 3-4 times before a year of age.

 

[jgarruto]

Let's see, they were hatched around Easter, so the oldest hens are getting close to 5 months old? I didn't know there were juvenile molts - good to know! Another interesting tidbit - the majority of the feather loss seems to be in the corner (under the poop board) furthest from where the majority of the (older) hens roost. My two youngest roost on this side, but I'm not seeing feathers from them. Perhaps a combo of molting and rooster molestation??

 

[aart]

Let's see, they were hatched around Easter, so the oldest hens are getting close to 5 months old? I didn't know there were juvenile molts - good to know! Another interesting tidbit - the majority of the feather loss seems to be in the corner (under the poop board) furthest from where the majority of the (older) hens roost. My two youngest roost on this side, but I'm not seeing feathers from them. Perhaps a combo of molting and rooster molestation??

Feathers end up collecting in the corners and along walls from breezes and the activity of the chickens moving around.
Roosters(cocks) and especially inept cockerels will pull some feathers when mating, I wouldn't call it 'molestation'.
Bare backs/wings don't usually happen until the birds are older unless they have very brittle feathers.