Missing feathers on front of neck

[Donna Durepos]

Mine get tons of protein, sometimes I worry too much, scrambled eggs, meal worms, fish, ect. Melons, apples, other fruits and vegetables….only no free ranging . They will NOT eat greens! Spinach, kale, cabbage, lettuce, ect. Any ideas here?

Are they free range?

 

[wolvesarelove]

I noted in my reply, not free ranging

 

[wolvesarelove]

Sorry cut me off……
Unfortunately NOT FREE RANGING ……

 

[Donna Durepos]

I noted in my reply, not free ranging

Sorry. I was in for a minute from taking care of our coops. My rooster is missing some neck feathers again. So he did a slight molt. Possibly where they don't eat greens that might be contributing to it.

 

[Barbara Kennedy]

Hi

Have you considered that it might just be a normal annual moult. At this time of year most birds over a year old lose their old feathers and grow new ones. Sometimes it is all over the body but neck moults are pretty common. They can look pretty shocking for a month or two until their new feathers come in.... Their necks may start to look like pin cushions as their new feathers shafts poke through, but they will eventually unfurl into beautiful new feathers and make them look radiant again.
Hopefully this is what is going on in your flock. It may be that the Buffs have just not started moulting yet or perhaps they will not moult until next year depending on when they were hatched. Better to moult now whilst it is still reasonably warm than lose feathers in the middle of winter as some birds do.

Egg production will decline or stop whilst they moult and may not resume until after the winter solstice when the days start getting longer unless you supplement with artificial light, but personally I don't begrudge my girls a break.

Best wishes

Barbara

Hello and thank you for the information. Im still concerned. I have 8 hens. They have a secure coop. 10 nesting boxes. And a 12x12 covered yard so wild birds can't get in. But there are occasional mice. All of my girls are bald on top of their heads, vents, and loosing wing feathers. One hen is turning grayish on face and cone. She is slower. I've treated thier coop and thoroughly cleaned it inside and out. Also dipping them. Some look worse then others. Please help me fix this problem. And they have stopped laying. This has been going on for several months.