Is seasonal cheek fluff okay?

[rosemarythyme]

Agreed that a stripped off muffs/beard is not the same as feather picking or aggression. It's more likely because of overzealous grooming. Birds with muffs and beards are more prone to get food particles stuck in them and the others are picking the area clean (which tends to strip off the feathers too).

My messiest eater, which happens to be a crossbeak, gets stripped of her beard within months of it growing back in. I have other birds that retain full muffs and beard all year without issue, guess they're more tidy while eating?

 

[TinyRaptorDodos]

Agreed that a stripped off muffs/beard is not the same as feather picking or aggression. It's more likely because of overzealous grooming. Birds with muffs and beards are more prone to get food particles stuck in them and the others are picking the area clean (which tends to strip off the feathers too).

My messiest eater, which happens to be a crossbeak, gets stripped of her beard within months of it growing back in. I have other birds that retain full muffs and beard all year without issue, guess they're more tidy while eating?

I’ve never noticed anything messy about peppers eating… it could’ve been one of my old chickens (salt, Paprika, basil, saffron or cowboy) seeing as it hasn’t happened again yet

 

[Poultrybonkers]

Yes her beard is being plucked by other this is why Im not a fan of bearded breeds as it always happens which is also why my true ameraucan rooster lives by himself to keep it looking nice as a plucked bearded breed looks ugly

 

[TinyRaptorDodos]

Yes her beard is being plucked by other this is why Im not a fan of bearded breeds as it always happens which is also why my true ameraucan rooster lives by himself to keep it looking nice as a plucked bearded breed looks ugly

Thankfully peppers looked pretty normal, there were no feather stubs or anything, every single feather of her beard was gone so it didn’t look bad, reminded me slightly of a turkey vulture… I guess I should really study every bit about breeds before getting them, even the supposedly unnecessary bits like how silkies get lice and mites much easier and worse infestations or how certain breeds personalities will be different… I usually just check egg laying and broodiness.

As long as she’s not being injured then it’s fine, glad it came back BEFORE it get below freezing

 

[Poultrybonkers]

Thankfully peppers looked pretty normal, there were no feather stubs or anything, every single feather of her beard was gone so it didn’t look bad, reminded me slightly of a turkey vulture… I guess I should really study every bit about breeds before getting them, even the supposedly unnecessary bits like how silkies get lice and mites much easier and worse infestations or how certain breeds personalities will be different… I usually just check egg laying and broodiness.

As long as she’s not being injured then it’s fine, glad it came back BEFORE it get below freezing

Oh i will bet it wont last more then a few weeks before they pluck them out again. And i dont think silkies are more prone to lice or mites ive never had an issue

 

[rosemarythyme]

I’ve never noticed anything messy about peppers eating… it could’ve been one of my old chickens (salt, Paprika, basil, saffron or cowboy) seeing as it hasn’t happened again yet

Some birds are just groom happy, and neck feathers are a favorite. So yes it could've been one of the chickens you no longer have that did it.

 

[TinyRaptorDodos]

Oh i will bet it wont last more then a few weeks before they pluck them out again. And i dont think silkies are more prone to lice or mites ive never had an issue

I hope not, I missed her fluff, maybe I was lucky enough to get rid of the plucking ones
I was told just awhile ago, mine currently has a severe infestation (which is being treated), I think my Pavlovskaya died from that too, something with their crests/hair being good nesting areas I think

 

[TinyRaptorDodos]

Some birds are just groom happy, and neck feathers are a favorite. So yes it could've been one of the chickens you no longer have that did it.

Sounds like a Paprika thing to do, my others were scared of the others, Ronny died (she was hatched weaker along with Crutchie so it was expected) and I think it happened sometime after that? Salt was also an EE and was agressive, didn't really like getting close to others so she wouldn’t have been a grooming hen and my old rooster I don’t think would have done that either. It could be garlic who I still have… but I hope not, Garlic is super cuddly and tries to sleep under cinnamon or pepper while roosting so I could totally see her doing that

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

So on closer inspection my EE has one side of muffs thinning. She is very evasive so I never get a chance to see her well, but have noticed a few of her feathers (but nit muff or beard feathers) on the roost boards. I also have a light brahma that is loosing small fluff feathers but not in a pattern consistent with molting.
These two roost next to each and are middle of pecking order. There is one bielefelder pullet that has attitude and chases everyone..I suspect its her that is moonlighting as a esthetician.