Feathers falling out on two chickens before winter!

[colincrompton]

so our Amerucaunas are having some feather trouble, when I picked up abby our Blue wheaten I noticed her beard was falling out. This is our first year raising chickens, is this just molt? also when i picked up our buff Amerucauna some of her feather started falling off

 

[BorneHomestead]

How old are they?

 

[colincrompton]

About 6 1/2 Months

 

[Eggcessive]

Your chickens are probably just having a mini-molt. Here is a good article on molting: http://www.grit.com/animals/molting...lp-chickens-get-through-it.aspx#axzz2kZtdscgf

 

[Eggcessive]

Of course, there may someone who is picking feathers. Beards in EE's and Ameraucana's as well as faverolles are very attractive to feather picking.

 

[colincrompton]

what do mean like someone is coming to our coop and picking her feathers off?

 

[Eggcessive]

what do mean like someone is coming to our coop and picking her feathers off?

I meant that one of the chickens is feather picking. I have one faverolles that does it to her best friend.

 

[colincrompton]

oh okay, Is that harmful in any way?

 

[Eggcessive]

It just looks bad, but you can make sure they have plenty of protein (but not over 20%) in the diet, plenty of room to roam, and some interesting things to play on (rocks, clumps of sod and grass, etc.in the chickens area. Some will still do it occasionally while on the roost and while hanging out. It grows back after a molt.