Is this hen molting?

[Z_chicken]

What's up with her tail feathers? They look frayed. She wasn't laying at all, and felt very rough to the touch, then she started to lay soft eggs last week. I'm hoping she's molting.

Thanks!

 

[Chickengal505]

I see no signs of molting?!

 

[Happy Chooks]

I don't see anything to indicate molting. When mine started molting, they quit laying eggs, then lost the feathers around their face, then the feathers on their neck. Then it spread down their body and they lost their down and tail feathers.

Are you seeing feathers everywhere? (in the run, in the coop, etc) When my buttercup started molting it looked like they had a pillow fight and she lost.

 

[jeslewmazer]

Does she have mites?

 

[Matt A NC]

Looks like her feathers have been shredded. One of the causes of this can be Mites. Check her over really well. Check the house she sleeps in, be sure to check the cracks, corners, and under the roosts. Look for little black moving specks. Takes decent eyes to see them sometimes.

Matt

 

[Z_chicken]

Thanks! I'll dust them all with DE just to make sure, but I can't see any mites. Would that account for her poor laying?

 

[RocketDad]

What's that green stuff she's standing on? Where's the snow???

 

[mboreham1]

RocketDad
Today 3:48 pm What's that green stuff she's standing on? Where's the snow???


Its called So Cal! Same here in Nor Cal!

 

[Matt A NC]

Quote:
DE will work as a preventative, but if she is infested or the coop is you need something stronger. Sevendust works most of the time.

A bird being sucked by mites will not lay much or at all.

Matt

 

[Taylor]

she's not molting, she must have mites, or she's just taking a break.