Help with diagnosis: molt, parasite, or other? Pics inside

[ShannonO]

I have a flock of 10. They are 7.5 months of varying breeds.

Recently, a few looked a little ruffled. Today I discovered one is missing neck feathers and two are missing feathers around their faces. A couple others look scruffy around their necks and body, but only a little bit.

After a quick check with lice and mites this morning we found nothing. This evening we did a more throughout check of necks and vents and again found nothing. It looks like new feathers may be coming in but I am not experienced enough to trust my judgment.

The 10 hens are laying about 4-5 eggs a day, down from a peak of eight a day. I assumed the egg reduction is due to lower daylight levels. They seem to be behaving normally, eating and drinking.

Could this be a molt at 7.5 months??? Or do I need to search for a different cause.


Wyandotte neck:


EE face


Partridge rock face

 

[staceyj]

If you checked the vent area and under their wings and such and see no signs of lice you can bet on molting.
Mine were born the end of February of this year ( so 8 months old) and several are experiencing the same thing.

Gently lift up some feathers on their sides. You may see more new feathers coming in there too.
I say gently because those new feathers growing in hurt!

 

[mestenos]

I've never had hens molt in their first year, but that's what it looks like your hens are going through. The new feathers coming up look fine, so I wouldn't worry.

 

[micstrachan]

I had a spring pullet have a mini molt fall of her first year and another had a pretty significant molt at just under a year. Interestingly, their same-age flock mate STILL has not had amokt and they are in their second year! I’m guessing your girks are molting.

 

[ShannonO]

Thank you all for the replies. I feel better now. At least I can direct my stress and worry toward "why do chickens molt early."