fuzzi's Chicken Journal

[NagemTX]

Hey! Is this a molt?
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I noticed this afternoon that the head of one of my Dominiques looked lighter than usual. Her head looks like it's covered with small quills.

I picked her up to look closely. No sign of mites, scabs, anything abnormal.

She and the other Dominiques are only 7 months old.

For comparison, one of her sisters:
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Thoughts?

I did a search on "molt" but didn't see anything in the threads that was similar to what I am seeing here.

I don't think she's been laying, her comb hasn't gotten red like some others. I have seen some black and white feathers around the coop.

@Wyorp Rock

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Do you keep a light on them?

 

[fuzzi]

Do you keep a light on them?

Nope. Just daylight.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I don't have a game cam, but I do have a motion sensor light that probably spotlighted the critter, but they kept digging. Bold or stupid.

Looks like molting to me, could be just the head/a partial molt. Sometimes that can happen. I've had 9month old go through a molt before. If she's eating/drinking/active then I'd just keep an eye on her.

Bold or stupid with a motion sensor light - I'd say acclimated. I have motion lights along my fencing down the drive next to a small stream, the critters set the lights off all the time, they pay them no mind - the are used to it, actually it lights their way for them. Anyway, they light up good enough so I can at least see what's setting them off - oh, it's a Raccoon, Bunny, Cat, Stinky Possum...

 

[NagemTX]

Was just going to point out that we are entering the time of year they stop laying unless you leave a light on for them.

 

[fuzzi]

Was just going to point out that we are entering the time of year they stop laying unless you leave a light on for them.

I don't think this one (I think it's Naomi) has ever had a thick red comb like the others, not sure she's been laying. They're 7 months old, early April hatch.

I was hoping they wouldn't molt the first year.

 

[fuzzi]

Looks like molting to me, could be just the head/a partial molt. Sometimes that can happen. I've had 9month old go through a molt before. If she's eating/drinking/active then I'd just keep an eye on her.

Interesting, thank you. I don't recall molting from my previous experience with chickens, but that was 30+ years ago.

They're all eating well, drinking well as far as I know (water level goes down).

 

[NagemTX]

I don't think this one (I think it's Naomi) has ever had a thick red comb like the others, not sure she's been laying. They're 7 months old, early April hatch.

I was hoping they wouldn't molt the first year.

Mine that where a May hatch are molting.

 

[NanaK]

Interesting, thank you. I don't recall molting from my previous experience with chickens, but that was 30+ years ago.

They're all eating well, drinking well as far as I know (water level goes down).

Is she one that tried to go broody?

I have 1 hen that went broody very late summer. I broke her quickly but she still did a partial molt. When she feather back in she started back laying.

 

[fuzzi]

Is she one that tried to go broody?

I have 1 hen that went broody very late summer. I broke her quickly but she still did a partial molt. When she feather back in she started back laying.

No. I had two go broody, but both were the Speckled Sussex, not the Dominiques. I broke them both.

Looking at photos from the last couple days it appears their combs aren't as red as before. Oh well.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I don't think this one (I think it's Naomi) has ever had a thick red comb like the others, not sure she's been laying. They're 7 months old, early April hatch.

I was hoping they wouldn't molt the first year.

Likely a bit of a late developer if she's not come into lay yet.

Your pullets that are in lay now *should* lay through winter and all of next year until about fall, BUT there's always a but...they don't always follow the norms.

Those that haven't come into lay yet, I'd still look for eggs soon, probably by Christmas.