Feathers Are Prickly

[Headers Hen House]

My Chocolate Cuckoo Orpington's feathers around her head have been looking like their cut off so she looks a little frizzled? The picture below is her looking down and the feathers are sharp...

What causes this?

She used to be so soft and fluffy around her head. Is it because of how it's been really cold here in MN like -15 for the past 4 weeks? Is it stress? Will it grow back? Am I overreacting?

 

[Laodicia]

My Chocolate Cuckoo Orpington's feathers around her head have been looking like their cut off so she looks a little frizzled? The picture below is her looking down and the feathers are sharp...

What causes this?

She used to be so soft and fluffy around her head. Is it because of how it's been really cold here in MN like -15 for the past 4 weeks? Is it stress? Will it grow back? Am I overreacting?

how old is she? could she be mid molt?

 

[sylviethecochin]

Looks like she's got pinfeathers (new feathers--the prickliness is the keratin shaft coming off of the top)--probably a reaction to the cold as hens grow more feathers when exposed to cold.

Yeah, you're probably overreacting a little, but still... far better safe than sorry, right?

 

[micstrachan]

Yep, pin feathers. She’ll be fluffy again soon! Has she started molting anywhere besides her head? Two of my pullets molted first on their heads, but one of my hens molted on her head a coupje weeks after her body molt.