Losing feathers on head

[Grammahen]

I have 1 Silkie hen that is losing feathers on her head only. She looks worse everyday. I treated for lice/mites twice recently with poultry powder but she is still losing feathers. I am not seeing anymore lice or mites. I have 4 chickens in all ( 2 golden comets and 1 silkie roo) and the other 3 are fine. She is not losing feathers anywhere else and is not being picked on. They were born in March so I don't think it is a molt. Can anyone help?

 

[emys]

Overzealous rooster?

 

[Ridgerunner]

The first site describes molting. Molting usually starts in the head and neck area, so I think this may be a possibility.

Mississippi State describes molting
http://msucares.com/poultry/management/poultry_feathers.html

The next site talks about feather loss. You may see something in here that gives you a clue as to what is happening if it is not a molt.

Kansas State feather loss
http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/library/lvstk2/mf2308.pdf

Good luck!

 

[Grammahen]

Hmmmm... Thanks Ridgerunner. According to the first link she may be in early molt. (?) ...but I am not seeing any feathers come in yet. Is this normal?

 

[Portia]

I have 2 pullets in an early partial molt. Their necks are all scraggly and they have lost some of their tail feathers; but nothing at all like my hens that are just recovering from their full molts.

 

[gritsar]

I agree with Ridge. Sounds like the start of a molt.