Help. Missing neck feathers with quills intact

[Ptrow86]

Hi all,
I have a mix of bsl, polish, EE,and australorp chickens that are 9 weeks old. We also have a rsl of unknown age. A few days ago I noticed a couple of feathers missing on two of my polish chickens necks. The quills were still in though. I assumed it was my rsl ginger being the culprit, as when the flock was introduced to her she showed her dominance for a few weeks. Since then she has really settled in with the younger ones nicely. She lets a select few sleep on her roost. I just went out to the coop and now my rsl ginger is missing neck feathers. Could it be my 9 week old rooster trying to "get down"? He hasn't even attempted to crow yet so I doubt he would be mature enough for that yet,but I'm pretty new to the chicken world. Any ideas?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They are pretty young to be mating. I would guess it's a baby molt. They go through multiple ones as they grow.

 

[Ptrow86]

They are pretty young to be mating. I would guess it's a baby molt. They go through multiple ones as they grow.

Ok,I wasn't thinking about that because I didn't think they molted as pullets. That would explain why my older rsl has similar feather loss with quills remaining. The only weird thing is that there is only 2 polish and my rsl

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You could spend some time quietly watching them for a while to see if you see any feather picking going on.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

When you say only the quill remains, do you mean only the most bottom part of the feather is intact? The feather has been broken at the quill? If they were molting, the entire feather would fall out. Then, the new pin feather emerges.

Or, are you seeing a long feather shaft without any barbs (the fluffy stuff)?

 

[Ptrow86]

When you say only the quill remains, do you mean only the most bottom part of the feather is intact? The feather has been broken at the quill? If they were molting, the entire feather would fall out. Then, the new pin feather emerges.

Or, are you seeing a long feather shaft without any barbs (the fluffy stuff)?

This is just the tip of the feather in their skin. No feather on it at all

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

The feather is broken at the quill...somebody has been snacking on her feathers, or someone has been ripping at her feathers. Maybe boredom, maybe some fighting? You may need to set up a chair and observer them during: morning, noonish, and late afternoon. Unless you already know the culprit.

Feather loss from a rooster usually occurs on the lower back of the hen. However, sometimes a rooster can get sloppy and grab for the back of the neck.

You can put a saddle on the hen to protect her from further feather loss, till you solve the mystery. Inspect her neck and back, make sure there are no hidden wounds that need medicine.

I have a hen that became very ill from an infected peck wound that I didn't see. She survived after having 10 days of antibiotic injections. She was at deaths door...

 

[sourland]

This is just the tip of the feather in their skin. No feather on it at all

Sounds as if someone is feather picking/plucking.

 

[Ptrow86]

Sounds as if someone is feather picking/plucking.

What are your thoughts on blue kote? I find it crazy that someone is picking at ginger the rsl she's full grown and has been the boss. I guess times are changing lol

 

[Ptrow86]

The feather is broken at the quill...somebody has been snacking on her feathers, or someone has been ripping at her feathers. Maybe boredom, maybe some fighting? You may need to set up a chair and observer them during: morning, noonish, and late afternoon. Unless you already know the culprit.

Feather loss from a rooster usually occurs on the lower back of the hen. However, sometimes a rooster can get sloppy and grab for the back of the neck.

You can put a saddle on the hen to protect her from further feather loss, till you solve the mystery. Inspect her neck and back, make sure there are no hidden wounds that need medicine.

I have a hen that became very ill from an infected peck wound that I didn't see. She survived after having 10 days of antibiotic injections. She was at deaths door...

Wow, thanks for the info. My wife put on some blue kote this evening just in case. Not sure if it's the best but it was the only thing available. I just can't believe that my full grown queen hen is getting picked on by 9 weekers. Maybe the youngsters are tired of her bossiness haha. My polish chickens that have a few plucked weren't a surprise, but ginger had me baffled