Late Molters or being pecked?

[DressageRider]

Our australorps started molting over a month ago, they have since grown back most feathers and picked up a little on laying. We had 2 hens who I thought were the roosters’ favorites. We no longer have the Roos and now a 3rd hen is looking similar/worse. Could they just be late molters or are they being pecked? The redness/swelling kinda worries me.

I have checked thoroughly for bugs as we have delt with mites before. The only common factor between these three seem to be that all are smaller than the rest. We’ve had everyone since chicks except 5 we got as pullets who never grew like the rest and are about 1 year, everyone else is closer to 2 years. There are some pin feathers growing in.

 

[BlueBaby]

It look's like molting to me. You can see the different in the new black feather's coming in compared to the older faded frizzed one's.

 

[Cragg Klefor]

Our australorps started molting over a month ago, they have since grown back most feathers and picked up a little on laying. We had 2 hens who I thought were the roosters’ favorites. We no longer have the Roos and now a 3rd hen is looking similar/worse. Could they just be late molters or are they being pecked? The redness/swelling kinda worries me.

I have checked thoroughly for bugs as we have delt with mites before. The only common factor between these three seem to be that all are smaller than the rest. We’ve had everyone since chicks except 5 we got as pullets who never grew like the rest and are about 1 year, everyone else is closer to 2 years. There are some pin feathers growing in.
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It looks to me like they are molting, but I would wonder about the severity of that red skin. It's difficult to see exactly but are there feathers broken off at the base in that last pic?
Do they hang out anywhere that could be causing friction to their 'shouders'? Perhaps underneath some wood or such or where they roost - have they enough headspace?
I would give them added protein and keep an eye.
Interested to hear about their progression, and what others think!

 

[DressageRider]

It looks to me like they are molting, but I would wonder about the severity of that red skin. It's difficult to see exactly but are there feathers broken off at the base in that last pic?
Do they hang out anywhere that could be causing friction to their 'shouders'? Perhaps underneath some wood or such or where they roost - have they enough headspace?
I would give them added protein and keep an eye.
Interested to hear about their progression, and what others think!

Hmm, I thought it was just new feathers growing, not broken ones but now I’m not sure. I’ll try to get a better look tomorrow...I don’t think it is from rubbing on something. They hang out under the coop a lot which has plenty of space, if they go under on the backside it could be tight I guess but not convinced that is it...Thanks for the reply. This is the first time I’ve ever noticed any of our chickens molt in the almost 3 years we’ve had them. I’ve always seen extra feathers on the ground but they never looked rough so I’m baffled.

 

[BlueBaby]

How long ago did you get rid of the roos?

 

[Cragg Klefor]

Hmm, I thought it was just new feathers growing, not broken ones but now I’m not sure. I’ll try to get a better look tomorrow...I don’t think it is from rubbing on something. They hang out under the coop a lot which has plenty of space, if they go under on the backside it could be tight I guess but not convinced that is it...Thanks for the reply. This is the first time I’ve ever noticed any of our chickens molt in the almost 3 years we’ve had them. I’ve always seen extra feathers on the ground but they never looked rough so I’m baffled.

From posts I've seen on here it seems to be a year for different molts - Hard/early/late/young

 

[DressageRider]

How long ago did you get rid of the roos?

One was a few weeks ago and the other was about a week. One of the hens started looking like this a few days ago though.

 

[BlueBaby]

One was a few weeks ago and the other was about a week. One of the hens started looking like this a few days ago though.

She might be having a late reaction to the rooster breeding her and her broken feather's will grow back after a while. I had a hen that was just going through that wing thing that look's like yours. She was my oldest girl at the time that was already laying egg's when my cockerel started doing his thing. He has many more girls available to him now.

 

[Melky]

Here are some things to make a molt easier see article. Just make sure no lice. Can’t see evidence of mites in photos. Don’t see evidence of broken shafts or feathers as they will have dried blood on them. Article on molting here will show you what to look for with that.
https://the-chicken-chick.com/molting-what-is-it-and-how-to-help/

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Our australorps started molting over a month ago, they have since grown back most feathers and picked up a little on laying. We had 2 hens who I thought were the roosters’ favorites. We no longer have the Roos and now a 3rd hen is looking similar/worse. Could they just be late molters or are they being pecked? The redness/swelling kinda worries me.

I have checked thoroughly for bugs as we have delt with mites before. The only common factor between these three seem to be that all are smaller than the rest. We’ve had everyone since chicks except 5 we got as pullets who never grew like the rest and are about 1 year, everyone else is closer to 2 years. There are some pin feathers growing in.
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I see broken feathers and intact feather shafts in the photo. Likely due to mating.
Once she molts, she will replace those feathers. For the time being that's the way she will be.