Okay--my 4 EEs are 18 weeks old this week and in the last couple of weeks I am noticing feathers lying about. First it was the longest tailfeathers and a few wing feathers--from each bird, not just one of them. Then miscellaneous small feathers everywhere. Yesterday I walked around the yard and there were batches of smaller feathers in piles in the run. I notice that my leader of the flock has an area on the back of her neck that looks like someone just grabbed a handful and yanked the feathers out.
I have never seen these birds pick or peck at each other and I sat and watched them for a couple of hours yesterday. They do the usual chest butting and charging at each other once in awhile but that is about it. I let them out of the pen when I get home so they are free ranging in an area that is about 40 x 50 with grass and bushes.
So what do you all think the problem might be? Moulting? Picking on each other while in the locked run because they are annoyed with not being let out? When birds moult is there a pattern to which feathers are lost first?
I have never seen these birds pick or peck at each other and I sat and watched them for a couple of hours yesterday. They do the usual chest butting and charging at each other once in awhile but that is about it. I let them out of the pen when I get home so they are free ranging in an area that is about 40 x 50 with grass and bushes.
So what do you all think the problem might be? Moulting? Picking on each other while in the locked run because they are annoyed with not being let out? When birds moult is there a pattern to which feathers are lost first?
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