Hens are losing lots of feathers mainly rail feathers, what could be causing this?

[chickernewbie]

I have 1 Rooster and 7 hens the amber links are the main ones losing feathers. First time chicken raiser, so not sure what could be causing this please help.

 

[rIrs roost]

Are they losing them mainly on their backs and heads or necks?

 

[chickernewbie]

they have no tail feathers just the long tail feathers mainly

 

[rIrs roost]

I know this sounds like alot of weird questions. But hopefully someone will chime in. They may ask you some of these questions so I'll ask a few to help give them a head start. How old are they? Have you ever wormed them? Are they eating and drinking? What does their poop look like? Can you post pics?

 

[chickernewbie]

They are about 17 weeks are not laying yet, never wormed them(not sure how to do this), yes they all eat and drink, I feed them the finishing/grower feed from Dumor and cracked corn, scratch, veggies, etc., their poop looks normal sometimes its a bit runnier than usual. Now that I think about I haven't seen a lot of white in the poop which is normally the pee portion right? I have clean water constantly out there. Let me try to go get a pic.

 

[chickernewbie]

 

[lazy gardener]

I'm guessing they are going through a juvenile molt. Is the cockerel missing tail feathers also? Are there any of them that are NOT missing tail feathers?

 

[chickernewbie]

Just the brown ones are losing tail feathers, the roo is fine and so is this girl

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

There are a series of molts they go through in the first several months. Your girls are right about the age they tend to molt in the tail, I have two 15 week olds that look the same right now

 

[rIrs roost]

There are a series of molts they go through in the first several months. Your girls are right about the age they tend to molt in the tail, I have two 15 week olds that look the same right now

Mare I can't remember mine going through a molt until the year after I had them. Did I just forget about it or Does some not molt that soon? @chickernewbie you're in great hands with Mare. She's one of the best.