Feathers look different

[Dr.GarryTTucker]

i was wondering what might be the issue. The feathers don’t look so hot. They don’t seem to be uniform and shiny as the other hens. Molt maybe? Or is she sick? Or are they getting pecked off?

I just took another look, she does have some new feathers coming in.

Side note I have a rooster that likes to clean the hens.... is that normal?

 

[azygous]

Check the skin around the feather follicles. The skin should be smooth except for little barbs of new feathers emerging. If the skin around the base of each follicle is raised instead of smooth and flat, that's a sign of trouble.

Probably this hen is a slow to molt individual. Some take months to get a complete new set of feathers, even into the coldest stretch of winter, unfortunately.

As for the rooster cleaning the others, I assume you mean picking food off of faces. That's normal, and some individuals can be obsessive about it. It's harmless unless they go overboard and end up yanking face feathers.

 

[Dr.GarryTTucker]

Check the skin around the feather follicles. The skin should be smooth except for little barbs of new feathers emerging. If the skin around the base of each follicle is raised instead of smooth and flat, that's a sign of trouble.

Probably this hen is a slow to molt individual. Some take months to get a complete new set of feathers, even into the coldest stretch of winter, unfortunately.

As for the rooster cleaning the others, I assume you mean picking food off of faces. That's normal, and some individuals can be obsessive about it. It's harmless unless they go overboard and end up yanking face feathers.

They seem smooth and normal. I think it might be a combination of molt and “spur burns” (that’s what my wife calls it)

As far as the rooster goes. Like if the hens get grass on their backs or dirt in their feathers, he will remove it. On the face too but ive seen more of him cleaning mud out of feathers or grass off of back. He isn’t rough he is super gentle with the girls. So gentle he “asks politely” to mate with them and if they say no he says ok and walks off.

 

[aart]

and “spur burns” (that’s what my wife calls it)

like 'beard burn'?


How old is this bird, in months?
Not all birds have great feathers, some are more fragile and/or brittle and thus susceptible to damage from treading.
Breed and/or source and line can be the difference.

 

[Dr.GarryTTucker]

Hey Aart!!
Yeah like beard burn!

This particular bird will be 13 months old at the end of January. She is a Rhode Island Red from McCormick Hatcheries maybe Hoover Hatchery I believe. Its the hatchery TSC uses.

 

[aart]

This particular bird will be 13 months old at the end of January.

Kind of young for a full molt.....but partial molts are not uncommon.