Is my barred rock molting

[meowteri2]

My barred rock will be 1 year old next week. I noticed poo sticking to her fluffy butt feathers for about 2 weeks. Then one day the area
was missing all the fluff feathers. I don't think another chicken pecked it because she is the the boss in the coop. None of the others
even challenge her. If this is molting how long before her feathers fill back in. I am in the chicago area and it just started to warm up
but the temps are not steady yet. We are getting a day time mix from 35 to 50 degrees.

 

[schellie69]

Has she lost feathers any where else on her body she might be going through a small molt most chickens molt in the fall but some do have a small molt in the spring.

 

[meowteri2]

Not really. I see kind of a sloppy feather here and there on the others. Like sticking out of place. Even during the one year I had all three I seen some
feathers in the coop each day but never seen a bald area. Should I have seen a molt since the time I have had them ?

 

[schellie69]

It sounds like it might be a small spring molt. I would up their protein with some scrambled eggs and yogurt. Or cat food and yogurt just to give them a boost You could also have some feather picking even if she is top of the order if the chickens see something on another's feathers they will peck at it. Do they free range what are you feeding them how big is their run they might be board.

 

[meowteri2]

Quote:
They have a very large run area 12ft x 10ft, plus about 5ft x 10ft between the garages. I give them a half can of tuna with some oatmeal
and a little scratch on it while I clean the coop floor and poop board. The coop floor is 4 x 8 made of 16"cement pavers and they go up a ramp into
there house above, that has a attached nest box and the roost is in there. The night sleeping area is 4 x 3 so I think they have alot of space for
3 chickens. The 4x3 upper unit and 4x8 floor space is enclosed with a roof and walls and has windows. It stands 78" high.

I picked up 2 black orpingtons today. They are one week old. I will keep them inside in my house and then maybe at 6 to 8 weeks bring them to the
garage to grow. I made a finishing brooder that is 4ft x3ft x 3ft high. They will stay in there til I feel they are big enough to start integrating
with the 3 adults. Also have a addtional 4ftx 8ft coop addition in the garage made in sections to add to the existing coop. Just waiting for some
dry warm weather to complette,

 

[Double-0 Chicken]

I have a barred rock who sounds exactly like yours. She is missing all the feathers around her vent and below that. Nothing missing off her back or anywhere else. It is not red or swollen or bloody, just looks like they fell out. I did notice today she is "talking" more than usual though. I also found a whole lot of small feathers on a patch of grass outside. Moulting? She is also the leader of the flock so it makes me think she isn't getting her feathers plucked.

 

[meowteri2]

Quote:
I will let you know if it fills in. It has been a few weeks like this and it does not seem to be getting any worse.

 

[Double-0 Chicken]

I will keep you updated here as well. I went out last night to double check for any mites or fleas and there are no bugs anywhere. It seems if it were mites all of them would have it and none of the others have any feathers missing. I did notice some loose neck and wing feathers on some of the others though which makes me think it's moulting all that much more

 

[meowteri2]

Yes, same thing on the isa browns . I feather sticking out here and there but no loose feathers in the coop. Just before they got to egg laying last
year I would find some feathers in the coop. Was worried about feather picking. But it stopped after a few weeks and everything was ok.
So that must have been some kind of molt.

 

[Double-0 Chicken]

I now have two Bare Bottomed Barred Rocks There are tons of fluff feathers in the nesting boxes. I guess I am not so worried anymore

How are your girls looking?