Feather loss

[MikeBarnes]

I have a flock of 12 birds. A mix of breeds. I have noticed over the last few weeks that some of the birds are loosing the feathers to the front of their neck, some loosing all the feathers on their neck and parts of the head. I thought at first that they might be malting. But am wondering if some birds are eating the feathers for protein. I have recently purchased a higher protein mix but have not seen an improvement yet. Any ideas welcome.

 

[Judy]

What age are they? These are the areas where molting is supposed to start. If that's what it is, which I suspect, the higher protein feed is an expecially good idea.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chickens-loosing-feathers-managing-your-flocks-molt

 

[Sarevan]

Our california greys are going to be a year old in March (all our birds really) they started losing feathers on the neck and head area a few weeks ago. The new feathers coming in make them look like porcupine chickens. I didn't think they would molt the first year. Now I'm seeing it on the welsummers, and EE. Eggs were already down from lack of light, I don't give them extra lighting.

I gave a mix of flock raiser and layena, to raise protein. After seeing it in more of them I switched to Feather Fixer, the plus about that it has something to help with mites lice in it. I make a mash with either boiled or scrambled eggs in it, sunflower seeds and a bt of corn. I give it to them late in the afternoon to help them through the night with full crops. Our temps at night when bad were below zero to below freezing. They are doing well even with the feather loss. I have checked them while roosting and they are all together warm and fluffy ones warming the ones losing feathers.

 

[roostersandhens]

Probably a molt..

 

[Judy]

Yes, it definitely sounds like a molt, with the "porcupine quills" description. The second pic in the link I gave you above shows the "quills," or new feathers with their shafts still iin place.

There are some rather amazing pics of molts in this thread. Molts really vary a lot in how they look.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/580915/for-the-new-folks-that-havent-experienced-a-molt-yet/0_20