Is this molting or a bigger problem

[markmc]

Well--I have my first chicken problem. A couple of days ago I went out and noticed one chicken was unable to walk in a straight line, was missing all the feathers on its back and the other chickens were pecking the crap out of it. I had to get to work so I couldnt deal with it right then. While I was at work my kids went out and found the chicken DOA. Now wheter it is totally unrelated or not, I also noticed two other chickens had tiny spikey feathers where their hackle feathers were. The australorp in the picture below also has feathers that dont seem as shiny as they were and its comb is not as red as my other australorp. Both chickens are still acting normally and eating and drinking and there is no runny poop or egg problems. Are these chickens just molting or do I have a chicken epidemic going on?? This is not the greatest picture but you can see the spikey white feathers in the hackle area. The one that died was a turken so I have no idea if it was having the same hackle problem that the other two chickens are. Just by luck you can see the other chicken with the same problem in the background. Anyway--any advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!!

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

Molting. See the white feather shafts on the neck? That's the new feathers comming in.

As far as the turken dying......

 

[CityClucks]

Sorry you lost your turken. The molting process can be hard on some birds - adding protein to their feed may help. What are you feeding your birds and do they have access to an enclosure that is out of the wind and weather?

 

[Miss Lydia]

could be molt or any number of things, have you checked them over for lice or mites? how old are they ? have they ever been wormed? these 2 things can bring a chicken down real fast.. if a chicken is sick the others will pick on it and possibly even kill it.. also you could have a feather plucker among your flock, but with less than shiny feathers I" say it's more than feather plucking.

 

[markmc]

Thanks for all the quick replies. They do have a coop that they can go in or out of. Except when it is below zero (which has seemed like most of the time lately!!) they actually spend most of their time milling around in the run. I feed them layena and occasional table scraps about once or twice a week which is usually bread, pasta or vegetables. I got them all at the same time and they have been raised together so I have never seen any chronic pecking issues until the other day with the turken. I was not all that worried about the two with white feathers until the turken died and then I got to thinking that it seems pretty stupid for a bird to molt during below zero temps so it must be something else. I have noticed a ton of black feathers laying around though. The turken went down within a two day period and died and was disposed of prior to my coming home so I didnt get to examine it for lice or anything but I have seen none on the other chickens. Hopefully it is just molting because of course these two are my two daughters favorite chickens. Thanks again.

 

[sourland]

The hen pictured is molting as kingbirdaholic noted.

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

Hey, Mr. Wizard.

 

[dsqard]

I agree with CityClucks try increasing their protien. You can give them BOSS or you could even mix in gamebird feed with the layena. I have been mixing in gamebird feed with my feed to increase protien over the winter. I just offer additional calcuim (oyster shell) free choice in a separate container.